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Arturo Gatti Autograph
A Large 16x20 Action Photograph signed by
Arturo Gatti. Comes complete with photo of Gatti signing.
He 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 was born and raised in Montreal, Canada,
but has lived in Jersey City, NJ since 1991. He speaks four
languages-English, French, Spanish and Italian-and began
boxing at the age of eight.
Arturo Gatti
SOLD
He
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 was born in Italy and raised in Montreal, Canada,
but he has lived in Jersey City, NJ since 1991. He speaks
four languages-English, French, Spanish and Italian-and
began boxing at the age of eight.
He turned pro on June 10, 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 (L 6), Gatti 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.
On June 28, 1994, he won his first professional title,
the USBA jr. lightweight crown, by crushing defending champion
Pete Taliaferro in one round at The Meadowlands Convention
Center in Secaucus, NJ (TKO 1). Seven bouts later he challenged
for his first world title.
On December 15, 1995, in front of 16,000 rabid fans at
Madison Square Garden in New York, Gatti 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 (W 12).
Gatti returned to the "Mecca of Boxing" on March
23, 1996, to defend his title for the first time against
Wilson Rodriguez. It's doubtful that any of the nearly 5,000
spectators expected to witness one of the greatest fights
ever; yet, that is exactly what they saw.
The fight began precariously for Gatti as Rodriguez's 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.
While cutman Joe Souza miraculously kept Gatti's eyes open,
Gatti continued his game plan of punishing Rodriguez's body.
With each ferocious body punch Rodriguez's hands lowered
further to protect his midsection. In the fifth-round, Gatti
drilled the Spaniard 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.
So impressive was Gatti's performance that the bout was
selected as 1996's "Fight of the Year."
On February 22, 1997, Gatti decisioned Patterson in their
rematch for his second IBF title defense (W 12).
Two bouts later on October 4, 1997, Gatti sent boxing fans
at Atlantic City's Convention Hall into a frenzy when he
drilled former world champion Gabriel Ruelas with a devastating
combination in round five to successfully defend his crown
for the third time.
Gatti and Ruelas traded bombs for the first three rounds
of their junior lightweight championship bout. Suddenly,
in round four, Ruelas landed a vicious left uppercut that
rocked Gatti, leaving him dazed and in danger of collapsing.
Somehow, after absorbing 17 straight unanswered punches,
Gatti managed to remain on his feet and fire back a combination
at the bell.
Round five began disastrously for Gatti. Drilled again
by several uppercuts, Arturo's demise appeared imminent.
Valiantly, he 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 (TKO 5). Arturo had once again escaped the jaws
of death. The bout was selected as 1997's "Fight of
the Year."
Following the Ruelas bout Gatti relinquished his crown
and moved up to the lightweight division.
After losing to Angel Manfredy on January 17, 1998, thanks
to a severe cut sustained in the first round (TKOby 8),
Gatti fought a memorable battle against Ivan Robinson.
On August 22, 1998, Gatti and Robinson furiously traded
punches from the opening bell in a bout that won 1998 "Fight
of the Year" honors. Gatti relentlessly pursued Robinson,
but was unable to equal Robinson's 50% connect ratio. The
Jersey City, NJ 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 ending the
epic war (L 10).
Gatti lost another 10 round decision to Robinson on December
12, 1998, but then rebounded to defeat his next four opponents
and earn a showdown against one of boxing's best pound-for-pound
fighters, Oscar de la Hoya.
On March 24, 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 at the 1:16 mark of round five (TKOby
5). Gatti ripped de la Hoya with left hooks and overhand
rights, but was 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.
He returned to the ring on Saturday, January 26, 2002,
in the Theater at Madison Square Garden and launched himself
into jr. welterweight world title contention by pummeling
former IBF jr. welterweight champion Terronn Millett in
four rounds (TKO 4). 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. The official time was 2:23 of round four.
On May 18, 2002, Gatti lost a controversial majority decision
to Micky Ward in a bout that is a virtual lock to receive
2002's "Fight of the Year" honors and will be
remembered as one of the greatest fights ever broadcast
in television history (L 10). The two fighters staged their
own "Rocky" movie, trading thunderous blows from
the opening bell. So overcome with excitement was HBO commentator
Emmanuel Steward following round nine that he declared it
the "Round of the Century". Although the judges
scored the bout in favor of Ward, of the eight members of
the press polled at ringside following the bout, seven selected
Gatti as the winner. Boston Herald boxing writer George
Kimball best summarized the excitement of ringside spectators:
"The promoters who advertised it as the 'Fight of the
Year' may have understated the case. . . . The bravery and
resilience of both fighters left the 6,254 in attendance
both thrilled and mesmerized."
On November 23, 2002, Gatti dominated Micky Ward to capture
a definitive unanimous decision victory in the highly-anticipated
rematch. In round three Gatti 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. Somehow,
in a superhuman display of courage, Ward managed to survive
the round and continue to battle until the final bell. However,
Gatti's superior boxing skills governed the evening as the
Jersey City, NJ fan-favorite stung Ward repeatedly with
stiff left jabs and thunderous body punches, and slipped
Ward's lethal left hooks with excellent head movement and
lateral movement.
On June 7, 2003, Gatti and Ward completed their legendary
trilogy, trading blows for 10 rounds in a bout that is already
a favorite to earn 2003 "Fight of the Year" honors.
Despite breaking his hand in round four and having to climb
off the canvas in round six, Gatti out-worked Ward to earn
a unanimous decision victory (W 10). Following the bout
the gentleman warrior Ward was gracious in defeat, acknowledging
that Gatti deserved the victory: "He [Gatti] hit me
with some shots early that took the steam out of me."
Ringside media gushed with praise for both fighters.
