Include me with the others that feel nice and warm when hearing of good
things coming to the Arturo Gatti and Glen Johnsons of this demanding sport
of professional boxing.
After hearing Johnson as guest on ESPN2 boxing studio, he gets my vote for
regular on the show. Easily more than a step up from the past Maxie-Brian
comedy act that converted to the today Brian Kenny & guest arrangement.
Feel Johnson should use his appearance(s) as auditions as he now nears
retirement stage of a sterling career with them wins over Roy and Tarver.
Both Glen and Arturo are throwbacks to a different era - more action less
talk - and even when encouraged to spice up the ring walk, they opt to keep
it straight.
Liked how Johnson waved off the Brian Buffoon come on, about maybe moving up
from light heavy since after the Roy-Tarver wins the division is thin on
talent … Glen wasn’t biting when saying he’s very comfortable at 175. Kudos
to the champ on that score.
Gatti however, appears once again to be treading nearer to where the sharks
play - and the deep end of the pool at 140, if not choosing with care,
smells of the "rest of the story."
Hopefully, the Mayweather talk is just that … a ploy to keep the Gatti name
a commodity while in search of something softer - as in any number of
attractive, competitive and possibly beatable foes out there.
Frig the megabuck PPV Tszyu or Mayweather thinking … let them get it on
after Tszyu-Hatton has its Manchester, England bonanza … and then shoot for
the losers over regular HBO, and hold it at the Gatti boardwalk locale.
Point is, the now nearing age 33 Gatti, needs direction … if early
retirement is the call then go the Mayweather PPV route. But if a possible
accumulative comparable is out there with the Ricky Hatton, Vivian Harris,
Sharmba Mitchell, DeMarcus Corely, Lovemore N’Dou, Oktay Urkal gang, my
shout is for Gatti to go for it.
Maybe with luck, in going that route, a Tszyu, Mayweather, Miguel Cotto
combination of pairings could result in a Gatti PPV going out party with the
last one standing.
