Arturo “Thunder” Gatti

[Socrates]

One of my all time favourite fighters, he would have been 48 today but unfortunately he passed away in 2009. His death was shrouded in mystery - the official coroners verdict was suicide but Arturo’s family and friends are adamant he was murdered by his wife.

I don’t want to get into the weeds on his death. I’d rather just remember him for the incredible fighter that he was. Known variously as Thunder, The Ultimate Blood and Guts Warrior and The Human Highlight Reel Gatti was a man who just loved a tear up. He became world champion but was probably below world level skills wise, but the man had heart, grit and courage which was off the scale.

He’s best known for his trilogy with Irish Micky Ward, two of which were named Fight of the Year. His fights against Wilson Rodriguez, Gabriel Ruelas and Ivan Robinson were also named Fight of the Year. He had mega fights against Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayeather - both of which he lost by stoppage. The Mayweather fight in particular, he is clearly outclassed and takes some huge shots but keeps coming forward trying to find a way to win.

If I’ve piqued you’re interest here are some YouTube videos to pass the time.

A highlights video from the brilliant Gorilla Productions :-

https://youtu.be/uJ_atZFmUuo

A documentary about the Gatti v Ward trilogy

https://youtu.be/K171-qQaqcs

Gatti v Ward I

https://youtu.be/5n4A_0Znd50


I know some people on here like boxing. If people are interested I’d gladly put together something like this for other fighters.

[TVC15]

Great trilogy of fights with Ward.
The Fighter was a good film.

I used to be a massive boxing fan - not so much these date because it’s gradually gone downhill over the last 10 or 15 years.

My favourite era of all time was the Hagler, Hearns, Duran and Leonard period - incredible standard of boxing. Probably the best of all time. One of my favourite sports books is Four Kings which is about these 4 and my favourite 3 rounds of boxing was Hagler V Hearns.
At the time these were fighting my favourite was Sugar Ray but as I grew older and read books about all of them they were all amazing boxers in their own right and had incredible careers and lives.

If you want to do a feature on any of these (or all of them !) feel free.

Loved the Nigel Benn era too and Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton. Read I don’t know how many books on Ali.

[Steve1956]

I enjoyed the highlights video,he dishes out some heavy punishment in those fights

[Damo]

His ko of Joey Gamache is one of the best I've seen

https://youtu.be/tEbMpOwiATk

*edit to say it resulted in tragic consequences for gamache, who very nearly died and ended up with life changing injuries

** edit again to say I didn't realise the controversy surrounding the fight (scales for weigh in supposedly tampered with, resulting in Gatti possibly coming into the ring much bigger than the 140 limit)
Probably wouldn't have posted this in hindsight

[Socrates]

Had a couple beers with Joey Gamache when I was in the US watching a fight. Some character is that lad.