Sunday, January 29, 2006
Gatti Stops Damgaard in 11
Despite reinjuring his perpetually sore right hand in the fourth round, Arturo Gatti used superior speed and power to stop previously-unbeaten Thomas Damgaard of Denmark in the 11th round Saturday night before a packed house at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Gatti outpunched the advancing Damgaard for most of the fight, and finished him off with a right-left-right combination, causing Damgaard to stagger and almost collapse to the canvas. Referee Lindsey Page wisely waved off the fight at 2:54 of round 11.
This fight was shown live in the U.S. on HBO, following the replay of last week’s Pacquiao-Morales rematch.
According to CompuBox numbers, at the time of the stoppage Gatti had a slight edge in total punches landed. He was 328 of 853 for a 38% connect rate, while Damgaard was 320 of 908 for 35%. But Damgaard exhibited much less power than Gatti, who outlanded Damgaard by a wider margin in power punches. There Gatti was 275 of 488 for a whopping 56%, while the lighter-hitting Damgaard was 196 of 403 for 49%.
After the fight, Gatti, returning to the welterweight division for the fist time on five years, admitted to HBO’s Larry Merchant, “My right hand is hurt.” He added, “It’s been hurt for the last couple of years.” And then, almost matter-of-factly, he stated, “It happens almost every fight.” Gatti also fessed up to injuring a rib during training camp.
Yet, as the fans both in Boardwalk Hall and watching on TV saw, once again Arturo Gatti had no quit in him.
Gatti, now 40-7 with 31 KOs, and in his first fight back since his devastating loss last June to unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr., said he is considering next going after new welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir. Damgaard, with his first career loss, falls to 37-1 with 27 KOs. Ironically or not, Baldomir is represented in part by attorney Mike Marley through Sycuan Ringside Promotions, with Marley also working with Damgaard’s camp for Saturday night’s fight.
This fight was shown live in the U.S. on HBO, following the replay of last week’s Pacquiao-Morales rematch.
According to CompuBox numbers, at the time of the stoppage Gatti had a slight edge in total punches landed. He was 328 of 853 for a 38% connect rate, while Damgaard was 320 of 908 for 35%. But Damgaard exhibited much less power than Gatti, who outlanded Damgaard by a wider margin in power punches. There Gatti was 275 of 488 for a whopping 56%, while the lighter-hitting Damgaard was 196 of 403 for 49%.
After the fight, Gatti, returning to the welterweight division for the fist time on five years, admitted to HBO’s Larry Merchant, “My right hand is hurt.” He added, “It’s been hurt for the last couple of years.” And then, almost matter-of-factly, he stated, “It happens almost every fight.” Gatti also fessed up to injuring a rib during training camp.
Yet, as the fans both in Boardwalk Hall and watching on TV saw, once again Arturo Gatti had no quit in him.
Gatti, now 40-7 with 31 KOs, and in his first fight back since his devastating loss last June to unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr., said he is considering next going after new welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir. Damgaard, with his first career loss, falls to 37-1 with 27 KOs. Ironically or not, Baldomir is represented in part by attorney Mike Marley through Sycuan Ringside Promotions, with Marley also working with Damgaard’s camp for Saturday night’s fight.
Comments:
As usual, he gave it his all. That usually makes him a joy to watch. Just have to hope his hand is not that badly hurt.
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2 Comments:
It was an awesome fight and I am so glad I had the chance to see him again.
As usual, he gave it his all. That usually makes him a joy to watch. Just have to hope his hand is not that badly hurt.
By 
Eddie Goldman, at
4:52 AM
