BALDOMIR vs. GATTI

Carlos Baldomir vs. Arturo Gatti
WBC Welterweight Title
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Distributed by Canadastar Boxing Inc.
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ARTURO GATTI PROFILE AND BIO

As at 24 June 2006

Arturo Gatti has been coined “the human highlight film.”

He participated in the “Fight of the Year” for three consecutive years: 1996 – 1998. His three epic bouts against Micky Ward are recognized as one of the greatest trilogies in boxing history.

And although his nickname is “Thunder,” Arturo Gatti has risen from the ashes on so many occasions that it would be more appropriate to designate him “The Phoenix”.

Gatti turned pro in June 1991, scoring a third-round TKO over Jose Gonzalez. He then went on to win his next five straight – four inside the distance. After suffering a minor setback to King Solomon in November 1992, he won his next 23 bouts – 19 by KO – with 10 of those coming in the first-round and just six extending past the third round.

Gatti won his first professional title, the USBA Jr. Lightweight crown, by crushing defending champion, Pete Taliaferro in one round in June 1994 (TKO 1). Seven bouts later, he challenged for his first world title.

In December 1995, he floored defending IBF Jr. Lightweight Champion, Tracy Patterson once in the second-round with a crisp right-uppercut on his way to capturing a unanimous decision and the IBF title.

In March 1996, Gatti defended his title for the first time against Wilson Rodriguez. The fight began precariously for him as Rodriguez’ stiff left jab and stinging right cross swelled Gatti’s eyes immediately in round one. Round two was even worse for the champ as he was knocked to the canvas. His eyes were miraculously kept open by cutman, Joe Souza and in the fifth round, the Spaniard was drilled with a left hook that broke a rib and sent the challenger to the canvas. In the sixth round, Rodriguez desperately attempted to protect his injured rib and by doing so, left his chin open to the left hook that ended one of the greatest fights, and comebacks, in boxing history. The bout was selected as”Fight of the Year” in 1996.

In February 1997, Arturo Gatti decisioned Patterson in their rematch for his second IBF title defense.

Two bouts later in October 1997, Gatti drilled former World Champion, Gabriel Ruelas with a devastating combination in round five to successfully defend his crown for the third time. They traded bombs for the first three rounds and in round four, Ruelas landed a vicious left uppercut leaving Gatti dazed and in danger of collapsing. After absorbing 17 straight unanswered punches, he managed to remain on his feet and fire back a combination at the bell. Drilled again by several uppercuts, his demise appeared imminent in round five. Valiantly, Gatti pulled the trigger on his patented left hook, landing it flush on the chin of Ruelas. Ruelas crashed to the canvas, rose at the count of six, but was unable to continue. The bout was selected as 1997’s “Fight of the Year”.

Following the Ruelas bout, Arturo relinquished his crown and moved up to the lightweight division.

After losing to Angel Manfredy in January 1998, due to a severe cut sustained in the first round, Gatti fought a memorable battle against Ivan Robinson. In August 1998, they furiously traded punches in a bout that won 1998 “Fight of the Year” honors. He relentlessly pursued Robinson, but was unable to equal Robinson’s 50% connect ratio. The Montreal born hero nearly pulled off another miracle comeback in round 10 when with less than 45 seconds to go in the fight, he rocked Robinson with a right hook and sent him reeling across the ring. Unfortunately, Gatti was unable to finish off Robinson before the bell sounded.

After losing another 10-round decision to Robinson in December 1998, he rebounded to defeat his next four opponents and earn a showdown against Oscar De La Hoya.

In March 2001, Gatti again proved why he is boxing’s most exciting fighter as he traded bombs with Oscar De La Hoya for five rounds before his corner ended the bout by throwing in the towel in round five. He ripped De La Hoya with left hooks and overhand rights, but as unable to overcome the bigger, stronger, former WBC welterweight champion. A wide gash opened under Gatti’s right eye in the first round, which later required 13 stitches to close.

Gatti returned to the ring in January 2002 and launched himself into jr. welterweight world title contention by pummeling former IBF jr. welterweight champion, Terronn Millett in four rounds. Under the tutelage of new trainer, James “Buddy” McGirt, Gatti boxed beautifully, flooring Millett once in round three and twice in round four to earn the stoppage.

In May 2002, Gatti lost a controversial majority decision to Micky Ward in a bout that will be remembered as one of the greatest fights ever broadcast in television history. The two fighters traded thunderous blows from the opening bell. The judges scored the bout in favour of Ward, but seven of the eight press members polled at ringside following the bout, selected the native Canadian as the winner.

In November 2002, Gatti dominated Micky Ward to capture a definitive unanimous decision victory in the rematch. In round three, he launched “one of the greatest right hands I’ve ever thrown.” The punch deflected off Ward’s shoulder before crashing against his head, sending him to his knees, face first into the turnbuckle. In a superhuman display of courage, Ward managed to survive the round and continue to battle until the final bell. However, the native Canadian’s superior boxing skills governed the evening as he stung Ward repeatedly with stiff left jabs and thunderous body punches, and slipped Ward’s lethal left hooks with excellent head and lateral movement.

In June 2003, he and Ward completed their legendary trilogy, trading blows for 10 rounds. Despite breaking his hand in round four and having to climb off the canvas in round six, Gatti outworked Ward to earn a unanimous decision victory. That trilogy has found its place in boxing history as perhaps the most exciting 30 rounds the sport has ever seen.

In January 2004, he captured his second world title when he decisioned WBC #1 ranked contender, Gianluca Branco. Boxing’s most exciting fighter sealed the WBC super lightweight crown in round 10 when he dropped Branco with a devastating left hook to the chin.

In July 2004, he KO’d Romanian, Leonard Dorin (now a Canadian Citizen) in the second round. Dorin, who most boxing analysts felt was a Micky Ward-like nemesis for Arturo, was floored in the second round by a left hook under Dorin’s ribs in the second. Leonard wobbled, went to one knee, and then proceeded to crawl to the ropes, and was unable to get up before the count of ten.

On January 29, 2005, Gatti knocked out former world champion, Jesse James Leija. Midway through round five Gatti dropped Leija with an overhand right that landed on the point of Leija’s chin. Leija rose to his feet and courageously traded with Gatti, but only to be dropped a second and final time by a left hook above the ear. He was counted out at 1:48 of round five. Gatti’s impressive performance was best summed-up by New York Post columnist George Willis: “It was a perfect exhibition of what Gatti has become of late: a puncher who can box.”

In June 2005, Gatti was stopped in six rounds by boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Following the completion of the sixth round Gatti’s trainer, James ‘Buddy” McGirt instructed referee, Earl Morton to halt the bout.

In his most recent bout, Gatti returned to the win column in January 2006, with a hard fought 11th-round knockout of undefeated Danish contender, Thomas Damgaard to win the IBA welterweight championship (TKO 11). Gatti ignored a fourth-round hand injury and pounded Damgaard with a battery of right uppercuts and overhand rights to dismantle the durable European in a performancethat left the boxing fans in attendance standing on their feet from the opening bell.