{"id":214999,"date":"2025-06-26T04:51:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T04:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/214999\/"},"modified":"2025-06-26T04:51:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T04:51:10","slug":"20-years-ago-today-pretty-boy-floyds-wholly-one-sided-shoot-out-with-arturo-gatti","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/214999\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Years Ago Today: \u201cPretty Boy\u201d Floyd’s Wholly One-Sided Shoot-Out With Arturo Gatti"},"content":{"rendered":"

This wasn\u2019t a fight, it was a showcase. It was a masterclass. It was tough to watch for the many millions of Arturo Gatti fans. Floyd Mayweather, then dubbed \u201cPretty Boy,\u201d later to become \u201cMoney\u201d and, it cannot be denied, a far less exciting fighter, albeit a largely untouchable one, met Gatti at Boardwalk Hall, this Gatti\u2019s \u201chouse.\u201d<\/p>\n

But instead of a great fight ensuing, it was Mayweather\u2019s show all the way. The fight was dubbed \u201cThunder & Lightning,\u201d and Mayweather had said beforehand that \u201cthunder only makes noise, lightning does damage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"YouTube<\/p>\n

And Floyd\u2019s super-fast, deadly accurate hands sure did some damage on the enormously popular Gatti. Gatti, 39-6(30) had long since established himself as THE most consistently thrilling ring warrior on the planet; his epic, even superhuman efforts in somehow finding a way to win in fights\/wars\/all-out slugfests with the likes of Mickey Ward, Gabriel Ruelas, Ivan Robinson, and Wilson Rodriguez seeing to it that he held a special place in the hearts of all fans who had seen him fight.<\/p>\n

But Mayweather, unbeaten at 33-0(22) and having ruled at super featherweight and lightweight, dished out such a hammering, such a beating, that even Gatti\u2019s awe-inspiring ability at managing to salvage victory from what seemed like a lost cause couldn\u2019t help him. Mayweather, who was barely touched during the six wholly one-sided rounds the fight lasted, hit Gatti with everything, from all angles, with Mayweather\u2019s speed, accuracy and spite all flowing with apparent ease.<\/p>\n

Gatti fought poorly, with him even making the rookie mistake of dropping his hands and looking at the referee when Mayweather had leaned on him. Mayweather unleashed a left hook and down went Gatti. The writing was on the wall. This was not going to be Gatti\u2019s night.<\/p>\n

The defending WBC super-lightweight champion took more hurt over the course of the following rounds. Mayweather landed a reported 168 punches during the six completed sessions, while Gatti landed a paltry 41 punches in comparison. Some fans felt Gatti failed to land that many. And then it was over, Buddy McGirt pulled Gatti out, allowing him to fight another day.<\/p>\n

Mayweather was now not only the pound-for-pound best in the sport, he was an established pay-per-view star. In victory, Mayweather, who had called Gatti a \u201cclub fighter,\u201d apologised for the slur. But in truth, as awful as it was to admit on the night, Gatti had been made to look like a club fighter, so otherworldly had \u201cPretty Boy\u201d looked in comparison.<\/p>\n

Indeed it was a heck of a tough night for Gatti\u2019s legion of fans 25 years ago.<\/p>\n

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