It’s hard to believe that it’s been exactly fifteen years since the first fight between Micky Ward and the late Arturo Gatti. Literally the last three bouts of Ward’s career were against Gatti, all ten-rounders as opposed to twelve.
At the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut, Gatti and Ward put on a show that, above so many other classic fights, has set the gold standard for epic brawls. The ninth round is considered one of the most action-packed rounds ever. Ward was never known as a heavy puncher, but he had a beautiful left hook to the body, which felled Gatti. The incredible heart and toughness of Gatti had sprung him to comeback wins in the past, and he was able to tag Ward several times and survive the onslaught of punishment that looked like it would result in a stoppage.
In the end, Ward won by majority decision on an unforgettable evening. It should be noted that Gatti’s penchant for low blows cost him a point when he thought he had a knockdown, and if referee Frank Cappuccino hadn’t made that decision in round 4, we would’ve had (perhaps fittingly) a split draw. This was 2002’s Fight of the Year and they would take FOTY honors again for their third fight (which Gatti won to take the series 2-1) in 2003.
You can watch HBO’s highlights at the top of the page, but I highly recommend watching the full fight in the video below.