Gatti vs. Branco

[darthpb]

Give Branco a lot of credit...first bout in the US, crowd 100% against him, fighting a proven vet and champ with the heart of a lion but that non-existent "D" is upsetting to watch...Great fight

[PittPanther]

If McGirt let Gatti throw this fight would have been over much sooner.

I don't see a future for Gatti as a fighter. Hurting his hand once again doesn't look so promising for his resurrection as a champion. If I recall, didn't they say that right hand had been operated on 4 times in his career?

On another note, if he ate that many right hands from Kostya he would have been flattened. I don't get why Buddy would want him to sit back and "box" when he can't defend himself.

[hamed]

I agree, Branco's not a bad fighter.

[vyshka]

Originally posted by PittPanther
If McGirt let Gatti throw this fight would have been over much sooner.

I don't see a future for Gatti as a fighter. Hurting his hand once again doesn't look so promising for his resurrection as a champion. If I recall, didn't they say that right hand had been operated on 4 times in his career?

On another note, if he ate that many right hands from Kostya he would have been flattened. I don't get why Buddy would want him to sit back and "box" when he can't defend himself.

Yes, they said that during the broadcast. Gatti also said he is
going to keep throwing that body shot which broke his hand at
least the last 2 times.

[sabotai]

Branco did look pretty good in this fight. I thought it was a good fight. I don't know if Gatti would have won earlier in the fight if McGirt let him slug, but he definatily would have KO'ed Branco in the 11th if he did.

Branco was cleary still shaken up at the beginning of the 11th round. If Gatti put the pressure on him, it would have been over. But Gatti did the dumbest thing I see fighters do. He got cocky and he showed off (and IMO ended up losing the 11th round). Not only that, if Gatti did that against a fighter with just a little more power, I think he would have ended up that canvas by some of the shots Branco landed. I say Gatti is lucky he didn't get floored in that round. All because he decided to get "cute" instead of finishing him off.

And Gatti reinjuring that hand does not look good. He can't continue to fight if he's going to break his hand in every fight.

[wildhawke11]

Hello Sabotai
Long time no see,
I agree i thought it was a pretty good fight, but i really wish Gatti would now call it a day. Once i think he meets a real puncher he is now going to be in big trouble. You cant go in against the very best with a damaged hand. But the lure of another pay-day i fear might override him thinking rationally. I Agree 100% with Panthers post. Problem is often fighters don't seem to think of the future well only in money terms, and not think for the rest of there life's like some fighters who no one talks about now,
they might have to live in constant pain from a problem caused in the ring.

He has now been in some wars and its not just years alone that age you but the punishment from tough battles in your career.
People say today's fighters are fitter because of modern training that's why most can now fight beyond the age most of the old timers did.

Most fighters today use about 6 or 8 weeks to get conditioned and ready to fight. Many do not fight more then 2 or 3 times a year. In between there fights they often put on weight and become in boxing terms unfit for battle. Because they fight less they often don't absorb the punishment time and time again that the old-timers did, Plus they don't take many fighters on who will in fact beat them or give them tough fights and spoil there earning ability. Hence there body's last longer.

On the other hand often the old timers were fighting much more and not always against bums ( to use a boxing term) because they fought more often and had to meet other class fighters to move up the ratings they in turn took far more punishment in most cases. Which of course ages your body regardless of the years.

The big advantage thought is at there peak because they fought more often they never really got out of condition and it did not take long to bring there condition to a peak. There are of course some very good fighters today, but alas i fear there far and away in the minority.

But Gatti and Ward proved one thing they might not be the greatest of talent but they were well matched and gave all, and them sort of well matched fights is the sort of stuff if shown on TV that might just give the fight game the kick up the backside it badly needs. and draw new boxing fans into the sport, or at least want to watch the fights.

[sabotai]

Hello Sabotai
Long time no see

I've been lurking around a lot. Not much conversation around here other than rating historic fighters, which I know I'm not an expert in historic boxers. But I did read one thread where you recommended the book "An Illustrated History of Boxing" and I picked that up from the bookstore in the past week. Definatly a good book.

I agree that while Gatti may have a good chin, he doesn't have much defense, and he's going to get nailed by some heavy punchers. And he's not going to last long if he keeps reinjuring that hand.

And on the boxer's conditioning, I never beleived that it's good fitness for these boxers to let their bodies go out of shape the way they do. Despite them getting back down to weight limits, I don't think their bodies can handle the constant up and downs that they go through. That's why I think you see certain boxers last longer than others. The one's that remain in good shape throughout the year seem to be the ones that stay in contention up into their mid to late 30's.

At least, that' my uneducated analysis.