should gatti be in the hof in 5 yrs?

lets not forget Michael Nunn.

 

If they got a spot for recieving ass whipping then yeah he is first ballot. other then that the answer is no.

 

Arturo "Thunder" Gatti retired with a record of 40 wins and 9 losses, with 31 wins by knockout. Losing that many fights in the modern era is difficult to overcome and he will never be listed as one of the ATG’s. However it is the hall of FAME not the Hall of All Time Greatness, so let me make a case for him.
Gatti is considered by many boxing experts and fans alike to be one of the most exciting boxers of his era. He has participated in Ring Magazine's "fight of the year" a total of four times. Every single guy with four or more appearances as Ring Magazine’s "fight of the year" - win or lose - are in the Hall (Basilio, Tunney, Foreman, Frazier, Louis, Schmeling and Ali) Gatti became world champion when he narrowly outpointed Tracy Harris Patterson and signed a multi-fight deal with HBO to fight on HBO Boxing. On January 24, 2004, Gatti also recovering from a broken hand, scored a tenth round knock-down and defeated Gianluca Branco of Italy by a twelve round unanimous decision to win the vacant WBC junior welterweight title. He has the titles – the exposure (HBO) – the notoriety and the historic fights to legitimately be in the Hall – in my opinion.

 

Does "credibility" and the boxing hall of fame go hand-in-hand?

Last year they enshrined Jose Suliaman.

 

I believe he will make it in. Almost every other world title holder has made the Hall of Fame. His contributions to boxing should also be awarded. The Boxing Hall of Fame is what it is. It often awards fighters that were exciting, other than sticking by a strict guideline for letting them in. Gatti will be in, and in five years the Hall of Fame Ceremony will be among the most popular ever because of him alone.

 

No, just not skilled enough or in possession of the ring accomplishments.