Arturo Gatti vs Ray Mancini

It would be a great battle, that's for sure...not much in the way of science, depth or skills, but plenty of bloodletting, action and excitement. I have no idea who would win...they both had so much heart.

 

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I want to say Mancini possessed a superior gas tank, what with being a 15 round era fighter and clearly having shown us he was fighting fit even in that era.

Gatti never had to do anything of the sort, people forget even the three Ward fights were 10 rounders.

 

Mancini was overhyped but not as much as Gatti

Mancini by mid to late rounds tko.

 

Basically my thoughts as well.

By the Gatti era the ability to hype fighters, or rather the volume and frequency you could beat people over the head with via technology and TV and other means, had expanded even though not that much time had passed between the two men's careers.

Gatti was truly held in an esteem by some that he never really earned, as I recall some people actually favoring him to beat or give Floyd Mayweather years back. The idea seems pretty preposterous in hindsight, but hey, it is 20/20...

 

I remember thinking it was crazy to think Gatti had a chance

It reminded me of Vinny Pazienza v. Roy Jones, Jr.

A mis-match

 

Good point Russell..maybe that tips the scales in Boom Boom's favor.

 

Yeah, I agree with that prediction.

Both of them may have been overhyped - they were not the real elite fighters of their generation - but they were made for the TV era because they consistently exciting and gave everything. And they created their own followings bigger than the initial hype because of the way they fought.

One of the reasons people gave Gatti a chance against Mayweather was because they wanted him to win. I was the same. It didn't matter that Mayweather was several levels above Gatti in skill and talent. Gatti had been to war. He had superhuman heart but was humble too. We wanted him to kick Mayweather's ass. We still do.

 

Size is a huge factor here that is being ignored. Boom Boom is a natural 135lber. Gatti has 5 inches in reach and Gatti is taller at 5'7 vs Mancini at 5'4. If this fight was at 140 Gatti would be blowing up to 154 around fight night. Boom Boom puts up a good fight but the ref stops it somewhere after the 7th round. For all Gatti's weaknesses he was able to have a consistent offensive output. That power over the course of the fight plus being able to take Mancini's best is the difference. It would be a barnburner while it lasted.

 

Boxing fans would win. Gatti would be a live underdog. I like Mancini on points in a back and forth type of fight where Gatti has his moments.

Though Mancini beat better competition, he had a relatively short career and was pretty much done winning by age 24.

 

Mancini was in some ways underrated because of the 2 losses to Bramble.
He defeated future LW Champ Jose Luis Raminez on pts and gave a prime
Arguello a competitive battle. In some ways Gatti is overrated because of
his trilogy with Mickey Ward. In a brutal war of attrition Mancini comes
out on top and stops Gatti on cuts in 10 rds.

 

I never thought of Mancini as overhyped. He was tough as hell extremely determined always in tip top shape applied alot of constant preassure with a very high work rate. Defense of course wasn't his strong point as we all know but ill always consider him a verry verry good fighter who always came to fight. I was still am a fan of Mancini. Add class act to this as well.

 

This is a ridiculous question. Mancini was a level above that scrub.

Mancini stops Gatti in about 7 one sided rounds.

 

Incredible fight, but I would have to go with a Mancini Pts victory. Gatti had some ability and a good offense but Mancini fought a Prime Arguello. He really went toe to toe with an ATG.

Manicini wont be able to take Gatti out as Gatti is bigger, has to much heart and Boom Boom was not a KO artist. Boom Boom is busier than Gatti, so I see him winning a split decision in a nail biter with Arturo coming on late and coming close to stopping Ray near the end.