Arturo Gatti
The Montreal slugger who turned every fight into a war
- Born
- April 15, 1972, Cassino, Italy
- Died
- July 11, 2009 (aged 37)
- Nationality
Canada- Height
- 173 cm (5′8″)
- Reach
- 173 cm (5′8″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- All-action slugger
- Weight
- Super featherweight, Light welterweight, Welterweight
- Active
- 1991–2007
The record
Professional; matches IBHOF record
The story
orn in Cassino, Italy, and raised in Montreal, Arturo Gatti won Canadian Golden Gloves titles and joined the national team before turning pro in 1991, aged 19, and basing himself in New Jersey. He won the IBF junior lightweight title from Tracy Harris Patterson in 1995 and became known for rallying when hurt: against Wilson Rodriguez, with one eye closing, he came back to win by knockout, and he knocked out Gabriel Ruelas with a left hook after nearly being stopped. His three 10-round battles with Micky Ward in 2002 and 2003, two of them The Ring's Fight of the Year, made him a star. He won the WBC super lightweight title in 2004, lost it to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2005 and retired in 2007. He died in Brazil in 2009, aged 37. Outside the ring he had his share of trouble with the law.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- IBF junior lightweight champion (won 1995, 3 defences)
- WBC super lightweight champion (2004–2005, 2 defences)
- International Boxing Hall of Fame (2013)
- The Ring Fight of the Year (1997, 1998, 2002, 2003)
- New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame (1996)
Defining fights
- 1995WINvs Tracy Harris Patterson (UD 12, won IBF junior lightweight title)
- 1997WINvs Gabriel Ruelas (TKO 5, The Ring Fight of the Year)
- 2002LOSSvs Micky Ward (MD 10, The Ring Fight of the Year)
- 2003WINvs Micky Ward (UD 10, The Ring Fight of the Year)
- 2005LOSSvs Floyd Mayweather Jr. (RTD 6, lost WBC super lightweight title)
Against Wilson Rodriguez, with an eye closing, Gatti turned the fight with a left hook to the body. When you are hurt or behind, go to the body to slow your opponent down, and keep a sound jab so you can box off the back foot while you recover.
