While Wax Heaven is almost strictly a baseball-related blog, my heart will always belong to boxing. Unfortunately, with the lack of interest in boxing these days, I barely have opportunities to write about the fading sport.
Today, shock hit me hard when I found out Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was found dead while honeymooning in Brazil. While investigators are working hard to find why a 37-year old would mysteriously pass away so sudden, one cannot forget what Gatti did for the sport of boxing during his 16-year career.
“Thunder” wasn’t the most gifted boxer but during his prime he became the most popular, exciting fighter of his time and was consistently giving ‘Fight of the Year’ performances. Not only would he give 110% of his body for each fight but it would literally take a Superman-like performance to defeat him.
Arturo last fought in 2007 before finally hanging up his gloves after losing 3 of his last 4 fights. Arturo left behind a wife and 1-year old son, not to mention one of the most cherished legacies in the sport of boxing. He has no certified autographs in The Hobby but is featured in some 90’s trading card sets, including Ringside and Kayo.
Rest in peace, young warrior.
NO WAY! My dad loved him as a fighter! My dad was shocked when I told him. This is so sad, I watched him as a fighter when I was younger! NO WAY! Thank you for reporting Mario, this is truly a shocker.
These guys give their lives for the sport and are underappreciated for it.
I hope someday boxing takes a lesson from MMA and returns back to it’s roots and ends pay-per-view showings of every fight. PPV was the death of boxing and took it from the living rooms of America. Without exposure it withered and died. I remember USA Friday Night Fights and Wide World of Sports showing fights they would charge a mint for today. They could at least go back to showing them on HBO like during Tyson’s heyday. Boxing is 100% percent at fault for what happened to them. MMA showed everything they could for free, from top fights to reality television, they put it into every tv in the country and are reaping the profits of that popularity that followed. Boxing could easily do the same. They need a marketable star and to give everything they can to get the product out there.
A true warrior. The only boxer in history to win a match one handed ( he broke his right hand on Mark Wards hip in the fourth round) One bad motherfucker let me tell you.
Rest in Peace
Mojo
Hey Mario, when are you going to use your pull with the companies and get them to produce a boxing set? You take the photos, I’ll do the designing, and we’ll get Mr. Hand to sprinkle his Mojo all over it. It’ll be a can’t miss.
And I completely agree with Justin. There are a few stars out there but people don’t get the chance to see them fight.
His wife has just been detained. Apparently Gatti was strangled and there was blood on her purse.
Yeah, this story is getting crazier by the moment.
For a look at his cards check here.
http://thoughtsandsox.blogspot.com/2009/07/rip.html
Thanks for the link, Adam!