When Arturo Gatti’s name is brought up, the immediate thought that may spring to the minds of many fight fans is his trilogy with Micky Ward. While that is no doubt an iconic rivalry, Gatti’s reputation as an all-action brawler with incredible heart and toughness far preceded the Ward bouts.
On October 4th, 1997 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey (Gatti’s de facto home venue), Gatti defended his IBF super featherweight title against former WBC champion Gabriel Ruelas. This actually wasn’t the night’s main event — Lennox Lewis’ destruction of professional ball-smasher Andrew Golota headlined the card — but it proved to be the war that stole the show.