TalkingBoxing Fight Report

January 25, 2004
Arturo "Thunder" Gatti Rolls!!
Gatti and top prospect Francisco Bojado Score UD's
by Jason Herron
     Who was that in the ring last night? And what did he do with Arturo Gatti? The brawling, throw caution-at-the-wind Gatti was replaced by a slick boxing machine. Even though his new style of fighting may have disappointed those in attendance at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, and many more watching at home on HBO, it just may allow Gatti to prolong his career a few more years.

Gatti was accompanied to the ring by his former foe, Micky Ward and NASCAR legend, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Gatti's opponent, Gianluca Branco, came into the fight undefeated, but more importantly, untested. Branco from Italy, was a huge underdog, but came into the ring with the confidence of an undefeated fighter.

Both men jabbed cautiously the first three rounds, with Gatti being the busier fighter. In the fourth round, (in typical Gatti fashion) Gatti's eyes began to swell. Gatti turned up the heat in Round 5, but may have broken his right hand again, when he slammed it into Branco's hip. In between rounds, Gatti did not mention his damaged hand to his trainer, Buddy McGirt, opting to fight on.

After losing the first six rounds, Branco stepped up the action for the next three heats. Branco would win rounds 7-9 on my scorecard, by pressuring Gatti and snapping his neck back with numerous power shots.

In the 10th Round, Gatti scored the only knockdown of the fight with a picture-perfect left hook that sent Branco crashing to the canvas. Branco would survive and even win the 11th. The bout was never really in doubt and Gatti claimed a useless, vacant belt by Unanimous Decision. TalkingBoxing scored the fight 116-111 for the winner.

Gatti moves to 37-6 (28), as Branco picks up his first loss and falls to 32-1-1 (15). Gatti's next fight could be this Summer against fellow Canadian, undefeated Leonard Dorin. The bout could take place in Montreal which would draw an enormous raucous crowd. A battle against Undisputed Champion, Kostya Tszyu, will have to wait until at least the end of the year.

UNDER CARD: Francisco Bojado survived a game challenge from Emmanuel Clottey to score a rather unimpressive Unanimous Decision. I scored the fight 97-93 for the 20-year-old Bojado. Bojado is now 15-1 (11), while Clottey drops to 21-6 (14). Bojado looked good down the stretch, winning the last four rounds, but didn't really hurt Clottey during the 10-round fight.

With the win, Bojado will probably headline an NBC card this Spring against another B-Level fighter, as he slowly continues to climb the crowded 140-pound contenders' list.

In off TV action, top welterweight prospect Kermit Cintron improved to 22-0 and picked up his 20th KO, knocking out veteran Humberto Aranda. Cintron was on the offensive for the entire fight, dropping Aranda with a sharp left in the 4th and finished him off with a powerful right that forced referee Tony Perez to halt the bout just a minute into the 5th frame. May 1st looks to be Cintron's next bout and will be featured on NBC.

Heavyweight prospect BJ Flores (5-0) got a 4th KO, dropping Chris Hairston twice and eventually forcing Hairston to quit late in the first round. James McGirt, son of top trainer Buddy McGirt, won his pro debut, taking a unanimous 4-round decision over James North (0-2).

Jason can be reached at jasondfd@hotmail.com