Comments Thread For: Look Back At Gatti-Ward I On 20th Anniversary Of 'One Of The Great Nights In Boxing History'

[edgarg]

Lower tier fighters committing body abuse

I always felt that Hagler beat Leonard that night.
Also that Duran just didn't barely beat him, but beat him well. Gave him what he was taking and much more.

Leonard was far too cunning for his own good. He had a spy in Duran's entourage, and knew that he was partying for 4-5 months, and had to take of 60lbs in a few weeks. Before he fought Hagler he had a serious fight in secret to see how he's be able to "comeback". Definitely not a "sportsman".

One of the most enjoyable sights I've seen is the way Macho put him away...a memorable event for me. He was only 41 and for such a brilliant Lb for lb fighter, was as unsteady on his feet as if he were wearing high heels.

[TreD]

Ironically, this is the only fight of the three I haven't seen. I watched them in reverse order, because I heard the 1st one was great. Saving it for a rainy day.

[edgarg]

I respectfully disagree. Marciano beat Ezzard, Jersey Joe, Archie Moore, and Joe Louis. They weren't in their prime but even past their prime, they had lots to give. they would still wash a lot of ppl around today. Marciano did what he had to do and took whoever was put in front of him. He didnt duck them or try to wait until they got old like fighters do today he just came along a few years after them. Its not his fault. He didn't even wanna fight Archie. Archie followed him around and talked his way into that fight. Walcott said if I can't beat this bum, take my name outta the history books. Ezzard was still no joke. Joe Louis was faded but again, Marciano did not want that fight. And Marciano could knock ur brains out for real. He was truly the real deal

I disagree with you quite a bit. You quote a few Urban Legends.... he said this he said that...Take Ezzard, for instance a GREAT light heavy..But when he fought Marciano he was very much USED UP. Here's why. He'd had nearly a HUNDRED pro fights. Most of them battles, especially after he lost to Jersey Joe, an old man. Just 2 fights before Marciano, he's lost TWO in a row, )one to 24 year old Harold Johnson basically then a middleweight, later a career light-heavy). Of his 15 fights before Marciano, all but 3 went the distance,

Believe me he Was washed up.

Walcott. was a very old man for those times and still had Marciano well beaten until that 15th rd. In the return he just cashed out.
You sound so sad about Joe Louis. But they hauled hi out of a sanatorium and gave him a few set-ups (like Lee Savold) to get him "ready" for Marciano.

You should read the book his son wrote about him. In and out of Sanitariums, hiding under the table with the cloth well pulled down. Hearing voices, seeing visions. He was so washed up already for YEARS, that he could have started a laundry.

Marciano was a mob-made Champion, his manager Weill got 50% because he had "guys" to pay off. Marciano himself said that he arranged those "exhibitions" in Mexico AFTER he's retired so as not to have to pay that 50%.

And MORE......

Here's a tip for you and it's 100% fact. If you go to BoxRec, look up the records of the guys that Marciano "fought". Up to before he became champion. You'll get pretty much of a shock, that is if you are not just a Marciano "groupie". Of his first 12 fights the opponents themselves had a total of NO wins ONE draw 19 losses. Actually one guy had 10 "wins" but they were all in Quebec,4 and 6 rders, and HIS 10 opponents had O wins and 1 draw. SET-UPS-.SET -UPS. SET-UPS.........-

For instance, one of his "better" opponents Lee Savold . Marciano was his 154th (45 losses) "fight" and he still went 7 rds. In the 8 years before he fought Marciano, he'd had 7 fights, of which he lost all but ONE, He beat Bruce Wood**** the British Hori\onal Heavyweight, after losing to him as well. He was actually retired for 2 years, but was dragged out to face Joe Louis the fight before Marciano, Joe KO'd him. And that was just 2-3 fights before Marciano won the title. He was KO'd a couple more of those 7 fights too. He was held together with baling wire and string.........

Marciano's last fight but one was against Don ****ell, a sick, career BritishMiddle and Light-heavy, with bad glandular disease. It was ****ell's 59th fight , 2 before an already arranged retirement. He still managed 9 rounds. with the "Champion".

Interestingly, Marciano said in a full page RING interview with Nat Loubet, that he was going to fight for several more years, was still learning..etc. After 7-10 days he announced his retirement. FIVE months later, Floyd Patterson, who had been blazing his way as a lt-heavy and announced he was going to heavyweight, beat Archie Moore for the suddenly vacated title.

I hope you understand now why I compared Marciano's "best" fights with Gatti-Ward.

FACTS are FACTS.

[BodyBagz]

I've never watched it. I've seen the pics of Ward and Gatti's faces and that's enough for me. That wasn't a boxing match, it was a battle of attrition that neither man was interested in losing. Pure brutality.

The best C level fight I've seen.
Figured Gatti's superior boxing and hand speed would get him a W. Ward was on a mission that night and Gatti wasn't going to be out macho'd.

[BodyBagz]

Ironically, this is the only fight of the three I haven't seen. I watched them in reverse order, because I heard the 1st one was great. Saving it for a rainy day.

Those fights had no real drama
It's all about the 1st one.

[Boxing2695]

This is EXACTLY what makes me laugh at American boxing fans, media, everyone. People like to forget that this was a completely SHOT Gatti going up against , at the time , Ward , who was considered basically a lower " B " type fighter. One of those pure glorified clubfighters. Maybe at best a 30th rated fighter. At absolute best. He came into the fight a big underdog against the shot Gatti. Ward had lost 11 fights when they fought. Gatti been knocked out a few times and was severely fadedfrom his prime years . Was the fight competitive ? Sure it was . You had 2 fighter with equally shot skills going at it. Which made it entertaining to watch. I've seen just as exciting fights at the local Legion on a Saturday night. Two guys, no defence , just wailing away. It's fun to watch. But make no mistake , this wasn't elite fighters going at it. It was actually sad to see. Two absolutely shot fighters beating the piss out of each other. In the USA , they glorified it. Made movies about it. When all it was, was 1 "has-been" , Gatti, fighting a " never-was ", Ward . That's what it was . Gatti had peaked several years before , never mind being knocked out several times, and the 11 loss Ward was just a doorkeeper , getting beat all the time. But the Americans soak that kind of stuff up. Same as Canelo whipping all these guys that didn't stand a chance for the last 5 years. His big Pope-like entrances . Even Canelo bought into his own fraud. It's sad. Anyhow , Gatti vs Ward was a farce . , 2 completely shot fighters, that ended up evenly matched and made for a good fight because of that. At the time Gatti had a name, that's it. and Ward, a reputation of someone that could give you a few rounds. The biggest fraud " Big " fight of all time.

Nobody said it was two elite guys going at it. That's why it was a 10 rounder at the boardwalk it was billed at the time as a Lower level fight and it was great action from start to finish and it got both guys big pays days to end there career I believe micky ward made his first million dollar purse when they had the trilogy fight so it was a fight that captured the fans imaginations and yeah it's not elite level boxing but it never was build as that and nobody has ever said it was afterwards it was two guys going to war and ofc we love high level world title boxing but there's nothing wrong with enjoying a slug fest as well boxing can be entertaining at all levels of the sport

[archiemoore1]

I disagree with you quite a bit. You quote a few Urban Legends.... he said this he said that...Take Ezzard, for instance a GREAT light heavy..But when he fought Marciano he was very much USED UP. Here's why. He'd had nearly a HUNDRED pro fights. Most of them battles, especially after he lost to Jersey Joe, an old man. Just 2 fights before Marciano, he's lost TWO in a row, )one to 24 year old Harold Johnson basically then a middleweight, later a career light-heavy). Of his 15 fights before Marciano, all but 3 went the distance,

Believe me he Was washed up.

Walcott. was a very old man for those times and still had Marciano well beaten until that 15th rd. In the return he just cashed out.
You sound so sad about Joe Louis. But they hauled hi out of a sanatorium and gave him a few set-ups (like Lee Savold) to get him "ready" for Marciano.

You should read the book his son wrote about him. In and out of Sanitariums, hiding under the table with the cloth well pulled down. Hearing voices, seeing visions. He was so washed up already for YEARS, that he could have started a laundry.

Marciano was a mob-made Champion, his manager Weill got 50% because he had "guys" to pay off. Marciano himself said that he arranged those "exhibitions" in Mexico AFTER he's retired so as not to have to pay that 50%.

And MORE......

Here's a tip for you and it's 100% fact. If you go to BoxRec, look up the records of the guys that Marciano "fought". Up to before he became champion. You'll get pretty much of a shock, that is if you are not just a Marciano "groupie". Of his first 12 fights the opponents themselves had a total of NO wins ONE draw 19 losses. Actually one guy had 10 "wins" but they were all in Quebec,4 and 6 rders, and HIS 10 opponents had O wins and 1 draw. SET-UPS-.SET -UPS. SET-UPS.........-

For instance, one of his "better" opponents Lee Savold . Marciano was his 154th (45 losses) "fight" and he still went 7 rds. In the 8 years before he fought Marciano, he'd had 7 fights, of which he lost all but ONE, He beat Bruce Wood**** the British Hori\onal Heavyweight, after losing to him as well. He was actually retired for 2 years, but was dragged out to face Joe Louis the fight before Marciano, Joe KO'd him. And that was just 2-3 fights before Marciano won the title. He was KO'd a couple more of those 7 fights too. He was held together with baling wire and string.........

Marciano's last fight but one was against Don ****ell, a sick, career BritishMiddle and Light-heavy, with bad glandular disease. It was ****ell's 59th fight , 2 before an already arranged retirement. He still managed 9 rounds. with the "Champion".

Interestingly, Marciano said in a full page RING interview with Nat Loubet, that he was going to fight for several more years, was still learning..etc. After 7-10 days he announced his retirement. FIVE months later, Floyd Patterson, who had been blazing his way as a lt-heavy and announced he was going to heavyweight, beat Archie Moore for the suddenly vacated title.

I hope you understand now why I compared Marciano's "best" fights with Gatti-Ward.

FACTS are FACTS.

I didnt even read your whole post because ur crazy. Ur talking about ezzard was washed up. Ezzard wasn't in his prime but he was still very good. Did u watch their fights or are only reading boxrec to form your opinions? Your a smug, statistic quoting, article reading kinda guy. Fu..k a statistic. Use your eyeballs and watch fights. Ezzard went 15 rounds with him the 1st time. Can u go 15? Hell, can anyone around today go 15? Yea some but not all. 2nd fight ezzard aplits his nose with a well placed uppercut. U ever split a hard, well trained fighting man's nose in half with one punch? No. Jersey joe was brillant in their 1st fight. Fu..k what his age was. Walcott was the sh..t so don't minimize what Marciano did. Could u have gone 13 with marciano? Or 15 like ezzard did in their 1st fight? Its easy to watch someone in the ring and say they are shot, etc. Ppl who are hyper critical and minimize boxers accomplishments, usually weren't ever boxers themselves. They can't go one round in the ring. I do believe Marciano avoided Patterson, because he was intelligent enough to understand he was declining and Patterson was on the come up. This is something all boxers have to make a decision about as they decline, and most make the wrong decision. They fight on when they shouldn't, and get kayoed. .Marciano retired and never came back. Ur mad at him because he saw the writing on the wall at the end of his career and made a smart decision. Smh ppl are something else

[archiemoore1]

And yes the Rock was a mob fighter to some extent, but does that mean when he hit ppl and they fell, that was because of the mob? When he almost killed carmine vingo, another Italian, was that mob related? His 43 ko's are because the mob steered him to easy fights? He probably legitimately lost to Tiger Ted Lowry twice and got the decisions. I can surmise that was probably mob influenced. As for Harold Johnson, he was a light heavyweight who beat heavyweights because he is one of the most skilled boxers to ever put gloves on. He beat doug jones, who gave Ali hell. Its no shame harold beat ezzard. harold beat most of the ppl he fought. He went pro in '46 and retired in 71. To he in the ring that long, u have to have skills. Harold fought everyone and whoever he didnt fight, its because they didn't wanna fight him. U can't use these triangle theories to make an argument that Marciano is somehow a bum. Forget statistics just watch him fight and ask yourself honestly, how many rounds u think u could have went with the Rock?

[Earl-Hickey]

Sometimes you get these great fights with guys who aren't at the very top level