Casino Connection Atlantic City

Getting Gatti

Atlantic City's favorite son is back for a January bout

by Dave Bontempo

Raise the curtain. Strike up the band. Gaming legend Arturo Gatti makes an encore presentation January 28 at Boardwalk Hall. No singular performer impacts Atlantic City like this Jersey City boxer. Gatti has helped author some of boxing's most memorable slugfests and Atlantic City's top box-office blockbusters. His Boardwalk events have produced millions of dollars and his June loss to Floyd Mayweather produced the mother lode, a $5 million gate. Gatti even helped push Boardwalk Hall to a coveted business distinction. Billboard Magazine recognized the Hall as its top-grossing mid-size venue in the world for 2005. Yes, the Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Cher and Eagles concerts contributed to the designation. But the biggest event of all was Gatti-Mayweather. Gatti's January appearance against Jesse James Leija produced another $1.6 million and pushed his gate-receipt contribution to nearly $7 million. The numbers don't even include multi-million dollar drops following the bouts. Gatti is gaming's ultimate wild card—a performer whose events produce both no-brainer sellouts and huge post-fight revenues. An excellent crowd should again grace Gatti's next bout, his welterweight debut. Gatti, who has held championships at 130 and 140 pounds, no longer can make the lighter weight class limits. He moves up to 147 and opposes unknown Thomas Damgaard, a 34-year-old Denmark native who has never fought outside his own country. Damgaard is 37-0 and not a bum, but it would not matter if he was. Fans would still buy the Gatti experience. His fights have become happenings. This event should produce his seventh consecutive gate exceeding $1 million. [Source of Mystique] Gatti, once dubbed the "Human Highlight Reel," represents boxers in their best-perceived form. He battles hard, often appears vulnerable, rallies from adversity and makes no post-fight excuses. Gatti avoids trash talking, presents an unassuming persona, smiles genuinely and trains diligently. Various ring scenarios carved his reputation. Gatti has been cut and come back to win. He won a bout practically one-handed against Irish Micky Ward after breaking his right hand early in the fight. A number of fighters would have quit with that injury. In 1997, Gatti was hit 17 straight times by Gabriel Ruelas. He fired back with one left hook, and scored a knockout. While furthering his career, Gatti helped others shine. A tremendous slugfest between Gatti and Wilson Rodriguez baptized HBO's Boxing After Dark series 10 years ago. Gatti set Ward up financially with their three-fight series. He did almost the same in two bouts for Ivan Robinson, whose career was declining until he beat Gatti twice. Robinson's first fight with Gatti was labeled both Fight of the Year and Upset of the Year by Ring magazine. [A Race Against Time] Gatti, 39-7, has enjoyed long career twilight. Although the wars made his career look to be over a number of times, he has prolonged the party. Gatti reinvented himself via the training of former world champion Buddy McGirt and won some easy fights. The victories, all in Atlantic City, prompted the move for a Gatti-Mayweather pay-per-view battle in June. Beyond the record gate, the event produced nearly 400,000 buys, an extraordinary success. Gatti lost, as expected, to the world's top fighter. What puzzled his fans was a complete absence of offense. Gatti needs to unfurl substantial aggression against Damgaard, to reclaim some lost mystique. Damgaard, who hasn't faced someone with Gatti's power, is an ideal first post-Mayweather opponent. [The Best of Gatti] This is an unheard-of 21st Atlantic City appearance for Gatti. His achievements include a 16-4 record and numerous highlights. Some were boxing-related. Some were financial. Some were both. Here are some excerpts: • May 15, 1992: Gatti debuts in Atlantic City with a six-round win over Joe LaFontant. • Feb. 22, 1997: He defeats Tracy Patterson for the second time, giving one of the most masterful boxing clinics of his career. Gatti retained his recently captured 130-pound world title. • All of 1998: Gatti lost three times, twice to Ivan Robinson and once to Angel Manfredy. He became the first fighter in history to lose three straight times and receive a multi-million dollar payday. • November 23, 2002: The first of six consecutive million-dollar gates arrives with Gatti's victory in the rematch against Ward, who had beaten him earlier. Gatti would win the rubber match the following year. • June 25, 2005: After wins over Gianluca Branco, Leonard Dorin and Jesse James Leija, Gatti fights the world's top boxer. He loses, but produces a record gate and gains induction into the Atlantic City Hall of Fame. It's been quite a run for Gatti. His supporters, and the gaming industry, hope it continues.

Sports Report RSS 2.0 Feed
Sports Report Podcast Feed