Arturo Gatti vs Micky Ward I

Fight Facts
Date: 18 th May 2002
Venue: Mohegan Sun Casino, Connecticut, United States
Title: No Title
Result: Ward W10

Everyone wanted to witness this battle as both men had been involved in titanic battles in previous years, most anticipated this bout to produce fireworks. Both fighters also had massive followings of support that would have filled any arena.

Gatti come out looking the fresher of the two he had a spring in his step and continually landed combinations, Ward continued to press forward but the younger Gatti continued to remain an elusive target and frustration.  Wards cut man, Al Gavlin would have a part to play in the corner as a cut appeared above his fighter’s right eye.  In the second Gatti stamped his authority in the ring as he continued to be in control with his combinations and lateral movement.  Ward had a granite chin and sucked up the shots, in all likelihood waiting for the younger Gatti to slow.  As the pace continued, Gatti was keeping Ward at distance while continually scoring with solid shots.  With less than a minute to go in the round we seen the first sign the fight could tilt in Wards favour as he broke through with his trademark left to the body. Gatti obviously in pain tucked his arms in low to protect his body; Ward then moved upstairs landing a solid right, simultaneously sending those in the arena to their feet creating an awesome atmosphere as the fighters continued to trade.

The fourth round saw Ward land a massive right that shortly stunned Gatti; but the Canadian born Gatti would respond with a ten-punch flurry that would bring those in attendance to their feet once again.  Nearing the end of the round Gatti landed south of the border’ Capachino had already warned Gatti this time he decided to deduct a point.  Gatti abandoned his hit, move style, and seemed all to keen to trade again landing with flurry of punches; Ward nodded in recognition then almost immediately opened up himself and landed with a clearer, crisper and more accurate barrage himself.

By the half waypoint, both men knew they were in a war of attrition and would be required to dig deep.  Wards cut had opened again and the eyes of Gatti had begun to swell.  In the fifth Gatti landed with regularity, both men landed big but it was Ward who looked the most effective at the end of the round it was Gatti who looked badly shaken.  They say you cant steal a round in the last few seconds; to little to late they say; well the end of the fifth was an exception to the rule, Ward clearly had his man in trouble and done enough to steal the round in doing so evening our scorecard.  Both men tried to gain the upper hand during the next couple of rounds, Ward was in ascendancy, Gatti looked to have punched himself out and at the end of the eighth Ward had his man in trouble.

Round nine would win our ROTY award and be up there with any round ever witnessed in the division. Early in the round, Gatti had to take a knee because of another tortures body shot from Irish Micky Ward.  When the fight resumed Ward, sensed victory und unloaded but could not finish the job and it was in need of a rest. Gatti would now take over landing solid shots repeatedly with no response from Ward for over two minutes of the round.  He put so much into the round and was tiring Gatti’s concentration was on protecting his sensitive body.  Ward landed huge shots to the head of Gatti he looked for a moment out on his feet.  Buddy McGrit (Gattis Trainer), could be seen standing on the ring seconds away from stopping the fight such was Wards onslaught. Watch Round 9

Before the tenth, Ward would start his celebrations prematurely as it looked as if Gattis corner had pulled him out of the contest but no such joy.  Another crucial round was to take place, much to the delight of those in attendance at the Mohegan Sun.  At the final, bell both men embraced in a beautiful sight of mutual respect.  We gave the final round to Gatti, which evened, up our scorecard but you could have made a case for either fighter. One judge had the same score as us 94-94, the other two 94-93 and 95-93, in favour of Irish Micky Ward. The decisive factor being Gatti had taken a count, had a point deducted and looked in trouble on more than one occasion from Wards onslaught.

Both fighters would meet one another again twice to complete a trilogy, which could sit proudly in any collection.