As 2005 began, Arturo Gatti‘s star was as soon as once more on the rise. He had beforehand earned the title of “Blood and Guts Warrior” after enduring thirty rounds of violent motion towards Micky Ward in one in all fashionable boxing’s most celebrated trilogies. He had amassed a big following due to collaborating in half of the earlier eight Fights of the 12 months. And he loved the help of hundreds of trustworthy followers who congregated in Atlantic Metropolis each time he entered the ring.
Alternatively, Jesse James Leija, then 38 years outdated, was on his approach out. However on the time he fought Gatti he had scored 4 wins on the comeback path after having been knocked out in his earlier title shot, shedding to champion Kostya Tszyu. And so Leija was making one ultimate run. He had been labelled an underdog most of his combating life, and towards Arturo that’s the function he discovered himself in as soon as once more. And so Gatti vs Leija was a high-stakes affair for each males, with Arturo eyeing an enormous payday and Leija trying to restore himself as an elite-level pugilist.
Gatti began off towards Leija working behind a flicking jab, holding his opponent at a distance, establishing the suitable hand, and infrequently counter-punching with an uppercut to the physique. His well-known left hook made solely sporadic appearances, and it took all of Arturo’s will to chorus from firing away when he obtained tagged with a major punch, however this was a brand new Gatti, extra of a boxer than a brawler. It might not have been spectacular, nevertheless it was efficient towards a light Leija.
Early in spherical 5, Gatti landed a monstrous proper on Leija’s jaw, and the way that jaw didn’t break after taking that punch will ceaselessly stay a thriller. Jesse went down and waited the higher a part of the ten rely earlier than getting up, legs all wobbly, eyeballs rolling round inside their sockets. Gatti went all in, unleashing a barrage of heavy artillery. He ultimately related with a heavy left hand to the highest of Leija’s head, sending him down and placing him out.
Gatti vs Leija would come to symbolize the zenith of Arturo’s profession. He was extra fashionable than ever, making massive cash, and a megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. beckoned. For his half, Leija had lastly reached the tip of the highway. He retired after his loss to Gatti.
Life was good for Arturo then. And watching him on the video of the Leija combat, earlier than the opening bell, strolling in the direction of the ring to the tune of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” it struck me simply how uniquely likable he was. After the combat, as soon as Leija had recovered from the knockout, I see Gatti strategy him, all class and funky charisma, and it’s unimaginable to not really feel unhappy about how his story ended.
This victory was the height of the “Gatti-as-boxer” bubble that had been developed by new coach Buddy McGirt and inflated by the media, particularly the HBO crew, in an effort to construct him up for a showdown with Mayweather. Sadly, this robbed Gatti of the one actual likelihood he might have had in that match, of being the stress fighter, getting inside and forcing Floyd to brawl. As an alternative, as all of his followers painfully bear in mind, Gatti tried to field Mayweather and the consequence was a complete mismatch.
However all that was nonetheless to come back. After defeating Leija, Gatti was on prime of the world, a champion and nonetheless an enormous attraction. In a profession filled with so many wonderful fights, and loopy ups-and-downs, this was the ultimate nice excessive. – Rafael Garcia
