This is being debated in the general forum right now and it seems they have reached a consensus that amounts to... "AHhh Hell NO!" Here is my take - 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 ATGs. 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 Magazines "fight of the year" (win or lose, Gatti is 2-2) are in the Hall (Basilio, Tunney, Foreman, Frazier, Louis, Schmeling and Ali) Gatti became world champion when he narrowly outpointed Tracy Harris Patterson and then signed a multi-fight deal with HBO. On January 24, 2004, Gatti, 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 wide exposure (HBO) and the historic fights to legitimately be in the Hall in my opinion. So, Classic posters, did I make my case? Can I make it stronger? Should I even be making a case for a guy with great heart but mediocre boxing skills? What is your opinion of this HOF vote that will likely take place in a few years?
no way no way no way. having said that, the hof needs induction weekend to help operate, and popular modern fighters draw crowds, so he'll get in. and that night I'm gonna loop his fights with manfredy, oscar, floyd, baldomir and gomez over and over.
You can add the Robinson fights as well. Anyway, no. Gatti was very entertaining, but no. Unfortunately, I think he'll get into Canastota, while more deserving fighters like Esteban Dejesus, Donald Curry, Marlon Starling, and Brian Mitchell have yet to get in.
I have no problem with Dejesus, Curry and Starling - I don't know much about Mitchell, except he was a South African "swarmer" with good endurance and only one loss early in his career - Could you give me a head start on my reasearch? Thanks!
No way. They've already let in too many marginally talented fighters as it is. Call me old fashioned, but Halls of Fame should be reserved for the "greatest of the great." Gatti doesn't meet that standard, not even close.
No - if there was a hall of fame for courage and heart in sports, Gatti would deserve it, but the boxing hall of fame should be reserved for truly great fighters.
