Doghouse Boxing’s Gatti vs. Mayweather predictions
By Anthony Cocks, Site Editor (June 23, 2005) 
Photo © Tom Casino
Thunder versus Lightning… enough said. Read on to find out who the astute Doghouse Boxing scribes expect to win this Saturday’s exciting showdown between the greatest pure boxer of the modern era and the greatest brawler of the last decade.

Scott Mallon: Nobody can deny Arturo Gatti is a rugged and exciting warrior or that Floyd Mayweather is an extremely talented boxer. The sport of boxing is the science of hitting without getting hit though, not the science of taking ungodly amounts of punishment. So does Arturo Gatti stand a chance? Of course he does, but the chance is slim to none. Mayweather is going to have to get caught looking into the crowd or Gatti is going to have to get lucky. I don't see this happening. What I do see happening is Mayweather making Gatti look slow and awkward with his blinding speed. By the fifth round Gatti's face will show signs of swelling as Mayweather starts to get warmed up. By round nine Gatti's eyes will be swollen shut and the doctor will step in between rounds nine and ten to stop the beating. Mayweather TKO 10.

Julian Kastin: This isn't the prediction most will make, but this is the biggest fight of his life and I think Gatti will come out the winner by decision or possibly even late stoppage.  Mayweather hasn't shown a great chin at 140, being rocked twice by Corley, and it seems as if his foot speed isn't what it used to be.

Sean Newman: This is a fight where, no matter how hard I try, I cannot envision a Gatti win.  Arturo may have it over Floyd in the punching power and guts department, but he has to hit Floyd squarely with his best punch to even have a prayer.  If he does, it could be lights out for Floyd as Gatti is naturally a much bigger man.  However, I expect Floyd to put on a boxing clinic and cause Gatti's face to cut and swell.  Gatti's boxing has improved, but he is nowhere in Mayweather's league, so his best shot is to slug.  Mayweather said that all Gatti has done for the sport is "make that mat bloody," and Gatti will do so again come Saturday night, en route to a TKO loss in the middle rounds.  Mayweather TKO 6. 

Aaron Imholte: Gatti is all heart, no quit, biggest heart in boxing.  Floyd will have to do all of these things to win this fight: 1. stay away from big punches; 2. protect the body; 3. be willing to die because Gatti will not quit under any circumstances – he will keep coming and coming and coming.  This is a new kind of freak Floyd is fighting, different from Corrales and Castillo, he’s bigger, in some senses stronger, and has more courage.  If the fight goes the distance Floyd wins, anything before 12 rounds, Gatti wins.

Gary Pino: I am a huge Gatti fan and if guts alone would be the factor, it would be Gatti, and by a 8th or 9th round KO. But As history shows aging warriors who have fought in wars like the 3 Ward bloodbaths, I think if Arturo is going to slip up and lose a big fight, Mayweather may be the perfect opponent to beat him. I do not think Mayweather can KO Gatti, but I think a possible TKO or a win on points would be my pick. Sorry Arturo, your still my man:) Mayweather by TKO.
Benny Henderson Jr.: Well, I am really going to be rooting for Gatti in this one, but I can see Mayweather out-boxing Gatti and staying away from his power. But, the pre-fight and post-fight hoopla will probably be as crazy as the fight itself. OK, I will say Gatti gets down and dirty and catches PBF in the later rounds.

Tom Gray: I would relish the sight of Gatti "beating the living shit" out of Floyd Mayweather Jr, which is a direct quote from Gatti himself.  Sorry, but I love Gatti too much to be impartial on this! Arturo is going in against the best pure boxer in the sport, who is, without overrating the man, a genius.  Genius has to be respected and I think Floyd will step up the gears in this one to force the referee’s intervention, after the mid way point.  Mayweather TKO7. I just hope that Arturo tags him big, just once, because that's all it will take.  I'm praying for him!

Martyn Elliot: I'd love to see Gatti shut Mayweather's big mouth, but just can't envisage it actually happening. Gatti's bravery and work-rate are rightly lauded around the world, but a quick look at his record shows they aren't enough when he steps up in class. Expect to see a boxing masterclass as Mayweather shows off the full range of his skills, toying with Gatti before finally stopping him in the tenth.

Jess E. Trail: Despite Mayweather's claims that he will "punish" Gatti, he will fight an intelligent in-an-out fight.  He will cut Gatti, outbox him and win a unanimous decision.  Floyd will survive the occasional big punch and thunderous body work.  And after the bout, Gatti will still be more popular than Mayweather.
 
Coyote Duran: Well, it's no secret where I stand on this and although I take nothing from Mayweather's history and his road to junior welterweight, now that he's on that road, I believe his ride's coming to a halt. This has been a year for upsets and Mayweather's ripe for his unless he really outslicks and cuts up Gatti. Still, I'm predicting an 11th round KO win for Gatti. Not "TKO" since Mayweather doesn't stand still long enough on the ropes to let an opponent fire away unanswered, but "KO" because I think Gatti has what it takes to floor Mayweather and keep him there.

Martin Wade: Mayweather will have to go retro (junior lightweight) to make good on his boast of making “easy work” of Gatti. I don’t think he can do it, at 140 (and nearing 30) he lives more in the pocket. Floyd will sweep rounds 1-8 with precision punching and digs to the body. Gatti will come on late hitting Floyd’s arms, shoulders and body but he will ultimately run out of time. Floyd will win by UD and steal a few fans with his grit, Gatti will maintain market value and earn a trip to England.

Jason Petock: I think it's going to be a challenging fight for Arturo Gatti to say the least. Floyd is clearly the craftier boxer with blistering hand speed. But I'm going to have to back my man and say that I choose Gatti to win by knockout in the 6th. I've been known to be incorrect in prior predictions but I have to stay true as a fan. I feel that if Mayweather gets into an exchange with Gatti it's going to be lights out for "Pretty Boy". With all the smack that Floyd's be talking lately, I hope I'm right.

Andrew Mullinder: It’s rare that I’ve been as convinced about the result of a supposedly competitive match.  It's irritated me that American observers, pundits, and fans judged Ricky Hatton’s record and ability with a withering sarcasm while lionising Arturo Gatti.  Who’s Gatti beaten at a world class level to justify his current position as pre-eminent American 140 lb-er?  Tracy Harris Patterson?  Mickey Ward?  Leonard Dorin?  Sure, Gatti is exciting – and he shows the kind of heart and nerve in the face of seemingly hopeless circumstances which rightfully attracts admirers.  But short of a brilliant McGirt game-plan or a lucky punch, Mayweather should prove far too fast, accurate, skilled, smart and classy to succumb to Gatti.  Mayweather by wide UD

Rob Scott: The fight isn't totally one sided; Gatti definitely has a punchers chance. The problem is he is facing a fighter as knowledgeable/skillful as Mayweather who knows this as well. If Gatti lands, things can happen for him. No matter how much Mayweather says he wants to war with Gatti – he won't. All the other fighters that Gatti warred with, to a certain degree, had to. Mayweather is fast and skilful enough where he doesn't have to. Look for Mayweather to put class in session. Mayweather – 12 round unanimous decision with the possibility of stopping Gatti on cuts.

Anthony Cocks: I’m going to put my nuts on the line here and tip Gatti to win by 11th round TKO. Here’s my reasoning… I don’t care how skilled a fighter is, they cannot move up in weight with impunity. I firmly believe that 140 is the glass ceiling for Lil Floyd, who has lost some of his speed and mobility as he has ascended the divisions. Light fisted ‘Chop Chop’ Corley rocked Mayweather twice in their bout and it took the pound-for-pound entrant eight rounds to get rid of the grossly overmatched Henry Bruseles. At 135 Mayweather went tooth-and-nail with another big, strong, aggressive fighter in Jose Luis Castillo. See where I’m going with this? The key to victory for Gatti is effective aggression; he needs to use his natural size advantage to lean on Mayweather and rough him up on the inside while digging to the body ever chance he gets. The one thing Gatti must not do is get reckless, which is a very real possibility after the continuous verbal assaults Mayweather has subjected him to over the past few weeks. Still, I like Gatti’s size and power to eventually win the day.

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