Arturo Gatti vs. Brandon Rios @ 140.

Gatti late

 

Interesting match-up. I could see a rematch, even a trilogy. Gatti could lose the first because he gets goaded into a fight.
Rematch & with McGirt, I think he sticks to the script and wins a UD 10 rounds to none.

 

I'd rake the Rios of the first Alvarado fight to grind down Gatti for a late stoppage. Gatti remains absurdly overrated on this forum.

 

How is he overrated?
He beat some pretty good fighters .
I think Patterson was a good win.
I think Ward was a good win.
As was Ruelas.

 

I don't think he is. Most people that rate him highly do so because of the way he fought rather than who he fought. I think he's a difficult fighter to be dispassionate about.

In terms of a matchup with Rios, I think it's a very even fight. I'll pick Gatti to win but not confidently. But I will confidently say it would have been the fight of the year whenever it took place!

 

Rios has a thin resume in my opinion

 

I wouldn't call Gatti's chin granite. He went down against a lot of guys and was stopped a lot too. Definitely a tough fighter though who fought with his heart.

That being said I pick Rios by tko.

 

He boxed brilliant v Patterson
I see gatti busier but Rios with a good chin to walk through fire to stop gatti late.

 

The best chin is the one that doesn't get hit. Imo he got knocked down a lot so good defense or not I'd say his chin was on the average side.

 

I'd favor Rios heavily at 140, but he had a brief window at his peak due to poor conditioning.

 

I completely agree. Question for the Gatti Lovers...who did Gatti ever beat? If he’s in the hall, surely there’s a spot for guys like Corrales, PWill, and others. An exciting trilogy with Ward, who a young Zab beat easily, does not make a HOF resume. Especially with 2 losses to Ivan Robinson and a beat down at the hands of Manfredy, who Corrales completely punished.

Give me a non-washed up Rios 10 out of 10 over Gatti.

 

Gatti had the ability to outbox someone like Rios for large stretches he just did not have the discipline. I don't see him staying away from Rios and boxing for an entire fight. I can see a prime Rios finally getting his kind of fight and wearing Gatti down.

 

While I think the people who picked Rios have some legit arguments, I'm still sticking with Gatti in this one.