Shane Andre Mosley vs. Arturo Gatti

There was a window of time, around 2000-'01, during which this was a fight that was actually on the radar as possibly forthcoming. It was probably nobody's most desired match-up for either competitor and never had some collision-course air of inevitability, but it was mentioned a few times by journalists and Gatti himself.

I think a victory for SSM goes without saying here, whether you're talking about turn of the millennium at welter or the mid to late 90's at either light welter or lightweight. I don't think even the most ardent Thunder fans would dispute that. Just patently different levels of class; "very good and great" being the more charitable interpretation (or "decent and very good" if you take a dimmer view of both).

I think it would have been a hell of a war, though. Arturo was hungry in that comeback period after his stretch of three consecutive unavenged losses (to Angel Manfredy and Ivan Robinson x2). His most lopsided defeats, moreover (as well as the grueling and legacy-making Ward trilogy, which, although epic, was absolutely career-shortening and prime-decimating), to DLH and PBF, were still in the future. Shane was also red-hot and undefeated, with his own humbling series of setbacks (going 0-4 against Viper and Winky - both, in fairness, natural 154lbers - in just under three years) looming ahead.

They had three common opponents - which is actually short of my expectations, considering their parallel rises through both the weight classes and regular prominent featuring on television:

1. Jesse James Leija: retired in 9 rounds by Mosley in 1998, and knocked out in 5 by Gatti seven years later.
2. Oscar de la Hoya: Mosley outpointed him twice, via SD in 2000 and UD in 2003, between which DLH beat Gatti by TKO5).
3. Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Gatti was retired on his stool in 6 rounds to drop his WBC super lightweight title in 2005, and Mosley lost a UD in a non-title affair five years later.

I guess the question is how many rounds would Gatti have bagged, and would he see the final bell? Hard to say on both fronts. Mosley's power did carry up but wasn't the same awesome destructive force at 147lbs as it was below. Willy Wise had been knocked out thrice already when he fell victim - but then, as counterpoint, Wilfredo Rivera had fought some high-profile matches and never been stopped (except once, against DLH, and on a cut no less), and while he ultimately succumbed he was just thirty seconds away from the final bell and had given SSM a fair bit of difficulty. Was he a better fighter than Gatti early days at WW?

 

Mosley picks him apart and stops him

 

How long would it take?

Is ten rounds enough time? (bearing in mind that it only barely was, versus Rivera)

 

Mosley easy UD or late stoppage

 

I think Mosley gets him out of there in about five. He would have been able to touch Gatti almost at will with his speed.

 

Ouch

 

I like Gatti but this is a mismatch. The void in skill and talent between he and Mosley is way too wide.

 

Gatti isn’t winning any moment of any round while it lasts if Mosley comes out serious. I’d feel sorry for Gatti in advance

 

Come on, man.

 

Gatti did good vs Mayweather and de la Hoya for a little over 2 minutes.I am serious,watch those first rounds again,he was doing decent against Floyd and was winning the round vs Oscar but then again he was put down(massively against Oscar) towards the end of the rounds.
I suspect here it would be more of the same.
Mosley in 5-6 rounds.
For what its worth the fight was closest to signing in 2006 as far as I know.

 

@IntentionalButt

This would be a painful mismatch. Gatti wasn’t half the talent, boxer or man Shane was.

 

Sugar Shane stops Gatti in around 8 for me.

 

Gatti , a easy fight for him by early ko lol.

But seriously folks, Mosely would beat Gatti from distance or
in close. Mosley had better skills, was faster, may have hit just
as hard ,better defensively and better chin.
Mosely in 7-8 rds. Tops.

 

Gatti was an incredibly brave warrior but really a B plus fighter at best, crowd pleasing , demographically appealing and exceptionally well promoted .. Mosley was a great, great fighter who could have stayed at 135 and dominated for ten years or the same at 140 but went bigger and fought the best of the bigger men ands held his own .. it is a mismatch .. Mosely would destroy him.

 

Gatti's heart was amazing... I thought he feasted on smaller fighters.. and come fight time was much bigger than his foes... always rooted against him.. but hated to see what happened later ...RIP Champ....