Goodbye Gatti
 By Julian Kasdin (July 17, 2007) Doghouse Boxing
Before and after his fight with Carlos Baldomir I wrote two pieces on how that should have been Gatti’s last bout. I wished from that point on I would only see Arturo ringside, but alas his warrior spirit was just too much and once again he was called back into the ring. This time Arturo, boxing’s ‘Ultimate Blood and Guts Warrior,’ its official ‘Human Highlight Reel’, would step into the squared circle for the forty-ninth time against Alfonso Gomez, 17-3-2 (8). It would ultimately be his last fight as this true warrior gave one more great effort before father time won.
As fight time approached much of the press was divided into two camps. There were those that thought Gatti had one last win in him and would defeat Gomez. There were others, myself included, who believed that this was one fight too many and that the younger, bigger Gomez would just have too much for Arturo. From the first round on it was apparent that while Gatti had his legs, he had little else. He was slower than the bigger Gomez, who also had a marked advantage in strength and was considerably fresher. He imposed his will on Arturo, out boxing, out slugging and eventually stopping the most game man in the sport.
While one could harp on about how Gatti lost, what I just described was not about Gatti’s loss but instead about Gomez’s win and Gatti’s last great effort. Arturo has given us more than we as fans could ever ask of an athlete. In no sport is someone required to make the mental and physical sacrifices that even defensive wizards like Floyd Mayweather or Pernell Whitaker have, and it is without a doubt that no running back, goalie or point guard has made the kind of inhuman sacrifice that Arturo Gatti has made over his long career. Gatti will never be considered one of the greats, but he is a legend. Some may see him as nothing more than a glorified club fighter but he has won titles in two weight divisions and fought the elite of his time. He had one of the greatest trilogies in boxing with former rival and now close friend Micky Ward, and through those fights won the hearts of millions of boxing fans.
I do not know if Arturo will stay retired or not, but it is my belief that he knows it is now time to call it a day and that he would be best served by enjoying his millions from the comforts of a ringside seat. While it is a shame that Alfonso Gomez’s performance will be overshadowed by the retirement of Gatti there have really been few men that have more fully embodied what it means to be a blue collar warrior like Arturo. I would like to thank Arturo Gatti as a fan for all that he has given us and wish him all the best as he begins his life away from the ring. Thank you Arturo.
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