gatti has been in so many wars and has made so many comebacks that i really dont know when his prime was. was it in '95 when he won tracy patterson's jr. lightweight title? was it when he came back against rodriguez or ruelas? or was it during his trilogy with ward?
Hard to say isnt it. Just because he had best results and most noted performances in 2003-2006 doesnt mean he was necessarily in his prime. He looked pretty badass in the 96-97 period where he beat Rodriguez, Patterson, Rueles and Grove. Physically he probably was at his prime there. When he came back against Millet, he looked reinvented and certainly looked like he had made some changes to his style. In that period from 2002-2005, he had the trilogy against Ward, I thought he won the 2 & 3 pretty convincingly. He beat decent challengers Branco and Dorin to win another title. Therehe matured to the point where he had enough skill and still enough talent to be a world champ, maybe thats another time where you could say his prime was. It certainly was the most profitable time of his career and the time he will be remembered for.
It just depends if your talking physical prime or tactical/skill prime. Gatti was a great warrior 95-98(physical prime). Due to the punishment he took he needed to learn some skills for his carreer to continue. Which he showed from 2002 until present day. Gatti when matched well really looks like a great boxer with a great style to watch. I would have to say that his prime would be when he beat the best class of oppenent in patterson and rodriguez. Or maybe in the second fight with ward. In the third he began to look old and haggered but still had the skill even with the broken hand to win comfortably lol dont know which gatti i would rather fight
