It was all visitor Carlos Baldomir in last nite’s donnybrook at the Atlantic City boardwalk of beauties and bag ladies, with the veteran from Santa Fe, Argentina steamrollering local favorite Arturo Gatti in a first defense of his (WBC) share of the welter title.

Gatti had some moments once abandoning the original game plan of making it a fight from the outside - problem was when in range to land the jab he would be instantly on the receiving end of Baldomir right hands - and the hot exchanges would take its toll on a wilting Gatti.

The usual Gatti grit was there from start to finish, and he scored with picture perfect left hooks when hurt in stanza five, and then again with dying bursts of power punches in the fateful finishing candle.

Was a furious exchange late in stanza nine that Baldomir first dropped Arturo with a big left hook - beats the count only to be driven to the ropes and falling again from a Baldomir barrage - referee Wayne Hedgepeth wisely called a halt at 2:50 mark.

Closing comments: Carlos Baldomir (43-9-6, 13 KOs) ~ the mystery man from Argentine a stranger no more - the convincing win over Gatti, coupled with the action pace from start to finish, plus a noticeable rock solid chin, shouts volumes his title win over then defending Zab Judah, was no fluke or overconfidence issue.
                                 Questions still to be answered is how much longer does a now age 35, with 58 kept appointments and brawler in style have left in the tank. Surprised Gatti with strength, and ability to quickly work his way in when Arturo tried boxing from the outside. Bottom line the guy has two recognizable past champions’ scalps and looking for more.
                                  Arturo Gatti ( 40-8, 31 KO) ~ clearly time to ride off into the sunset - the Mayweather beating and now Baldomir has taken a toll - the Damgaard win sandwiched between the losses was a cruel illusion that changing from brawler to boxer equates to second boxing life at an age 34.
                                 Referee Wayne Hedgepeth ~ amazing! Complaints made by Baldomir promoters the guy was too inexperienced for such a big fight. Ho, ho, ho to that bit of brainwashed logic. This guy worked a clinic, one that should be mandatory viewing for the usual connected ones stuck on themselves as they "perform" at center stage.

GEL -