Yes, it was a thriller this Gatti-Ward tiebreaker ... and very much like the second meeting that saw Arturo with the deeper arsenal than his one dimensional opponent.

The only heart warmer that I took home after this third nasty battle of attrition, was in hearing a Ward declaration that this one was his goin' away party ... no mas ... and hopefully he sticks to it - for tough Micky has never had anything more going for him than gameness, condition, and a Hail Mary left-hook to the body.

The resume speaks volumes ... goes out with 13 losses ... the 37 year old kid's idea of defense resembles a sad impression of the yesterday Floyd Patterson "peek-a-boo" ... and that is an exaggeration for Micky is much too erect a target to benefit from the style.

Likable Ward doesn't dodge the bullet, he bites it time and time again.

And Gatti ... best advice here is to return that HBO silent contract of eight showings ... he'll never survive the remaining seven after last night's brutality of blood, sweat and broken bones ... the McGirt "boxing" clinic arrived too late for Gatti to totally benefit ... and a bleeder is a bleeder by any other name.

Would be nice hearing Arturo and Micky both rode off into the pugilistic sunset ... they both earned and benefited the monetary rewards ... and have received accolades beyond their wildest expectations ... not to mention them megabucks that club-fight talents before them never commanded.

Speaking of no-mas ... how about Teddy Atlas joining Michael Grant in some kind of arm-embracing two-step while agreeing to luv, honor and obey from a distance ... let's face it, they have proven incompatible partners in the fighter-trainer arrangement.

Atlas does just fine in the company of self-ordained historians and Monday morning quarterbacks Maxie and Brian at them weekly ESPN shows ... it's good for the game this fite answer to Abbott-Costello's "Who's on first, what's on second" skit of the 1940s.

Atlas in the cheerleader role doesn't get it done ... Grant in the fighter role is equally inept when "other" guys come to fight ... and so much for the "This ain’t your Daddy's heavyweights" Maxie cornball shout ... on par with the Lampley "Not only bigger but better nourished, conditioned and has athleticism."

This Guinn guy that takes out Grant last noche is up for no more than the proverbial cup of coffee ... trust me ... you can bet the rent money on it.

Think Grant should exchange the mittens and mouthpiece for a bouncy ball of some kind ... before the old joke of "Who's buried in Grant's tomb" takes on a whole new meaning.

Semper fi,

GEL

06-08-03

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