“Thunder” In The Distance

“Thunder” In The Distance

By Jason Petock, Doghouse Boxing (May 16, 2012) Doghouse Boxing
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It is hard to imagine that it has been over two years since the untimely and unexpected death of boxing’s “Ultimate Blood and Guts Warrior,” Arturo “Thunder” Gatti 40-9 (31), a true Champion of the people and a fighter who wore his heart, and his blood, on his sleeve for all the world to see. Each and every time Gatti stepped into the ring you knew that you were watching a fight. Toe-to-toe, mano e mano, Arturo Gatti made fight fans of us all as he pummeled the boxing world with crunching left hooks and digging body shots that shook it to its very core.

It was sad to see the clinic Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. 43-0 (26) put Gatti through, but that was just Arturo for you. Anytime, anywhere, any place. You wanted it, he had it. Watching him work was awe inspiring and still is. To this day, even in his defeats, you would be hard pressed to find a fighter with more heart, willpower, or pure determination than “Thunder” had.

His fans loved him and rightfully so. Arturo Gatti punched and took punches in the human drama called boxing. He was boxing. “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler 62-3-2 (52) once said that, “If they opened up my head you’d find a boxing glove inside of it. It’s what I am.” Well if you were to open up Arturo’s chest you would have found a boxing glove in place of his enormous heart, beating its way into each and every one of our hearts with blow after sensational blow.

Fans and writers alike have debated whether or not Gatti deserves the BHOF nod, and in retrospect it’s truly a no-brainer. Some will tell you that he got hit too much, that he faced subpar opponents, or that in the end he just became a literal punching bag, a faded sparring partner for all challengers. This is not only a huge error in judgment on their part, but a lack of respect for a fallen warrior and his accomplishments. The man was a father and a pugilist, taken from this mortal coil and his family far too soon.

With each thrilling fight he warred in, and with every punch he threw, Arturo Gatti (R.I.P. Champion) made believers out of us. Believers in not only him but the sport of boxing as well. He fought for himself as much as he did his fans. Quitting was never an option for him. “I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees” should have been his mantra because when he stepped foot in that squared circle you knew it was on. No running, no ducking, no second guessing required. Gatti would dig in and give his all even if it meant losing a bout. The object of the game is to win obviously, and win decisively, yet Arturo was about so much more than that.

It is easy to minimalize an athlete’s performance when you yourself haven’t taken even one step in that individual’s shoes before. Once an athlete fails to live up to our exaggerated expectations and demands we lose faith in them and pass judgment, deciding instead to simply discard their memory and what things they have achieved in the process.

Arturo Gatti did not deserve this type of brush off in life and he surely doesn’t deserve it in death. He should be honored for what he did during his short time with us, and forgiven for the mistakes he made. No one is perfect. Not you. Not me. No one. So as you read this take a minute and listen off into the distance and you might still hear the “Thunder.” I know I do. We miss you Champ.

Jason can be reached with your questions, concerns, gripes, moans, complaints, insults or kudos at BoxingWarrior@hotmail.com. Your feedback is appreciated as always. Stay honest and keep punching.

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