Slugfest Galore: Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini vs. Arturo "Thunder" Gatti

:deal finally someone with some sense...mancini was a very good fighter...

 

I'd take the peak version of Mancini over any of the current lightweights or any super featherweights that might move up.

 

I would also, easily.

Mancini's far from a glorified 'club fighter' like Gatti is, the fact that Gatti is lumped into Mancini's class is absurd. You don't go 14 rounds with Alex ****ing Arguello and then get troubled by Arturo Gatti or Juan Diaz, just wouldn't happened.

Was highly against Mancini's HOF induction, just didn't do enough, but he's underrated in this regard something serious.

 

Mancini.

 

Good post. Gatti had such a sentimental connection with his fans because he did bleed, he was limited, was blue-collar, gave it his all, was tough, had heart, and his fights were inspirational. Some fighters you watch, and you appreciate their athleticism and natural boxing gifts, whereas some fighters you watch; they transcend the sport of boxing, and their fights were/are a good metaphor for everyday life IE get knocked down, get back up -- Keep grinding away..............

That, and in Gatti's early days he had some great comeback wins. Not to mention he had pride, like a Barrera, like an Eric Morales, like Calzaghe, where he gets hit, and wants to respond right away. Although limited, he was a very competitive boxer.

 

Careful Boo. You're talking about a Youngstown fighter.

 

Mancini is a different level of fighter than Gatti and would win by swift and lethal KO..but it would be one fun fight to watch.

 

Well that's the rock and a hard place portion of the HOF. You can't hold out a guy like Mancini who went tooth and nail with a legend like Arguello and had so many good fights in a short span and let a guy with a padded record in. Then again if you hold out a guy with a 45-2 record with tons of nobodies on their resume and let Mancini in.

Sorry to go off on a little side bar...but I think the HOF needs to either be revamped or reworked.

 

no one, and I mean no one takes flush shots to the face like Gatti

 

Footspeed? O.K maybe, but that's about it, look I love the guy but the skills were not there.

 

Gatti had pretty good speed. He wasn't blazing fast but he wasn't slow either. His skills were decent. He boxed his best in the Patterson fights, using the ring, letting off multi-punch combos.

No way is he a bigger "overachiever" in terms of talent and athleticism compared to guys like Qawi and Monzon who were much better fighters than Gatti.

 

That's not exactly a compliment.

And if you were saying it in a sense of noone having a better chin, that is ridiculous. MANY fighters have had better chins.

 

LOL

 

Mancini would do a number on Manny Pacquiao, that's for sure.

I agree that he doesn't belong in the HOF. In fact, quite a few guys don't in my opinion. They've lowered their standards. The fact that Barry McGuigan is in the hall of fame leads me to believe we'll probably see Ricky Hatton inducted one day.

 

I think Mancini is in the World Boxing Hall of Fame, not the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, which is more "official" and respected.