Speaking of the 1994, Chavez rematch i remember Taylor showboating, hitting Chavez after the bell, acting like a total ***** then finally Chavez gets pissed then drops him on his ass, that was beautifully done... Come to think of it im glad Chavez beat the living **** out of him in the first fight too...
Foremansjab does know boxing but I think he blew it on that statement too, Meldrick certainly had a decent enough chin.
There would be a lot of low blows on both sides. Both Gatti and Taylor threw a lot of low blows, although Gatti's seemed more brutal and damaging (ask Wilson Rodriguez). Taylor only was stopped by ATGs like Chavez, and bigger, skillful fighters like Norris and Espana who also would have beaten the **** out of Gatti. I won't even discuss Taylor's fights from 95-on as he was so far past it. Hell, he was already pretty much done by the Espana fight, he did better than expected in the Chavez rematch two years later. Gatti's body was much better at recovering from punishment than Taylor. It was very impressive that he wasn't a shot fighter years before he finally became one, he took horrific punishment and abused his body outside the ring. The Norris fight was a pretty shameless cashout fight by the Taylor camp. Gatti has a slim chance no matter which way they fight, boxing match or a brawl. Gatti's hooks are too wide, Taylor would tear him up down the middle and he's get cut or swelled up. Gatti lost in brawls to much lesser fighters than Taylor. The classic brawls he pulled off dramatic knockouts in were against smaller, lesser fights than Taylor, in Rodriguez and Ruelas. Ruelas was actually pretty talented, I was impressed with his win over Leija, but he was never the same fighter after Garcia, he couldn't mentally recover. The proverbial "puncher's chance" is a pretty slim chance.
Gatti never beat really good fighters. He would not beat Taylor, which is why his induction into the Hall is nice and I like it, but not really worthy. A lot of guys more worthy should have made it in that year. He was inducted in 2013. Virgil Hill deserved it, but not Gatti.
Not even close in levels here. Gatti would be a punchbag for Taylor close to what he was for Mayweather but maybe gets a few digs in.
That version of Taylor in 1994 who was badly declined and fought Chavez at 140, two years after Lou Duva publicly begged to retire....Gatti might not have even beaten him. That's how big the difference in class is. Guys like Eddie Booker, Julian Jackson, Donald Curry, Marlon Starling, Iran Barkley, Naseem Hamed (even though I can't stand him), Esteban Dejesus, etc...should all have been indicted before Gatti. Gatti made for some great fights, and all in all he was a pretty good fighter, but other guys were a lot better and much more deserving of the HOFz
Thank you Xplosive, this romantic relationship some people have with Gatti displays a total lack of boxing knowledge. The guy had an A+ heart with C minus boxing skills which caused him to take several beatings from less than high quality fighters. Taylor would toy with him like a cat with a mouse until Arturo's face was a mess. Gatti might make the distance if Meldrick doesn't push it but I'd still favor a stoppage around 8 to 10 rounds. Gatti never wins a round
Gatti couldn't avoid getting hit by Mickey Ward, Taylor is light years beyond him in boxing skills. This is a mismatch
Gatti couldn't handle Ivan Robinson's workrate and combinations, as much as i like watching Robinson fight. He was a very poor mans version of Taylor, this would be a late stoppage win for Taylor different levels.
What makes you think Taylor had a bad chin? He didn't. Wow what a fight this would've been though, all action! I like MT by late stoppage. That handspeed was off the charts!
I don't know I want to pick Taylor but for some reason he liked to brawl instead of use his boxing. And lets not even argue this: Taylor had very limited power. Courtney Hooper was a pretty limited fighter and he landed ALOT on Taylor and this was pre Chavez. If Gatti lands that much Taylor is going to have a problem. Taylor has all the skills to make it somewhat easy but he always stood in the pocket too much and it cost him. Gatti won't stop coming and Taylor doesn't hit hard enough to knock him out. There is going to be a time when Mel elects to swap punches with Gatti and I think he's going to do it one too many times and get caught. Gatti come from behind tko in the late rounds although I wouldn't put money on it.
