1/26/06 - article by Mike Indri
Arturo Gatti is back!
Thomas "Lionheart" Damgaard better be "damn-good".
By Mike Indri (THE WRITING POLICEMAN)
Retired Boxers Foundation
January 26, 2006
Today's press conference was jam packed, as will be his fight at the Boardwalk Hall
in Atlantic City this Saturday night; which suggests one thing.Arturo Gatti is back.
While the extremely popular fighter was dethroned of his WBC Light Welterweight
championship this past June by Floyd Mayweather, it's obvious that Gatti still
holds his title as boxing's most beloved and exciting fighter.
"We have over 10,000 tickets sold already," proudly stated Main Events Senior Vice President,
Carl Moretti. "Damgaard is a good fighter, but he is in trouble. This is a "must win" for
Arturo, and every time he's been in this situation, he comes through!"
The absence of Thomas Damgaard (37-0, 27 KO's) from Mickey Mantle's restaurant today
didn't help those who are unfamiliar with the talented and tenacious European Champion.
The unheralded Danish southpaw will be making his first U.S. ring appearance; having
fought all of his professional bouts within his homeland of Denmark. A crowd pleaser
in his own right, Damgaard's aggressive and intense fighting style has earned him
the nickname "Lionheart" and all impressions lean towards a fistic battle rather
than a boxing chess match.
"We know this is a tough fight," asserted the always colorful and loquacious New Yorker
Mike Marley, a member of Team Damgaard, adding "Damgaard won't bring his bicycle to this
fight. Everyone in Denmark travels by bike, but not Damgaard - and he will beat Arturo Gatti."
Beating Gatti (39-7, 30 KO's) will be no easy task for Damgaard, who appears a worthy
opponent; yet one who hasn't nearly fought the caliber of fighter of boxing's "pound
for pound most exciting fighter".
Although the same was said in early 2004 when Gatti faced little known Gianluco
Branco for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight title. While Gatti prevailed, becoming
a two-time champion, Branco became a "winner" in losing the fight. The lightly
regarded Italian fighter gave Gatti all he had, forcing the heavy handed knockout
master to dig deep to pull out the unanimous decision victory.
With the vacant International Boxing Association (IBA) welterweight title up for grabs,
as well as coming off of the humbling Mayweather defeat, and back fighting at a more
comfortable 147 lb. weight, Gatti may be too big a challenge for Damgaard.
"I feel good, I'm really healthy and strong at 147lbs," exulted the pride of New Jersey
boxing. I've had a hard time dealing with that loss against Mayweather, but Saturday
night you will see Arturo Gatti - explosive!"
Gatti, looking more confident and at ease, smiled assuredly, "it will feel good
having that title belt placed around my waist, after that last fight".
With a new found bounce in his step Arturo "Thunder" Gatti was off and running:
while over the horizon is Carlos Baldomir with his WBC championship belt, and
talks of big money fights with Ricky Hatton, or more likely Miguel Cotto.
Come Saturday night though, "Thunder" will return to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic
City; awaiting him will be his loyal legion of fans - 12,000 strong, and Thomas
Damgaard, who best be ready and good.Damn Good!
A limited amount of tickets are still available at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 1(800) 736-1420, or by
visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
The Arturo Gatti - Thomas Damgaard fight will be televised on HBO's
"World Championship Boxing" series beginning at 9:45 ET/6:45 PT.
In the off-TV co-feature promising featherweight prospect Jason Litzau (16-0 with
14 knockouts) steps up to face two-time world title challenger Carlos Contreras
(20-11-3, 13 KO's) in a ten round bout.
"I'm the co-feature, so I'm going to start the show off right - with a win," exclaimed
the refreshingly appreciative and likeable Litzau, adding "and Arturo will finish it
with a great victory!"
Also seeing action on the Main Events promoted fight card will be undefeated Paterson,
NJ welterweight prospect Henry Crawford (8-0-1, 3 KO's), talented heavyweight BJ Flores
(14-0-1, 10 KO's), heavyweight contender Malik Scott (23-0, 10 KO's), Lyndhurst's Wayne
Johnson (9-1, 5 KO's) and gifted female bantamweight Noriko Ann Kariya (2-0).
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