
Arturo "Thunder" Gatti v "Irish" Micky Ward II. 23/11/2002. Location: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. All great fights deserve a rematch, and that saying is no more solid than in this fight. This time around, like most rematch's they will not live up to the first encounter. Though it won't be far from it. Gatti has to drill box, box, box inside his head before instinct takes over and he's fighting Mickys fight. Arturo won't want to relive Wards body attacks that crippled him in pain in round nine, making him take a count. This was the round that judge Richard Flaherty controversially scored 10 - 7 giving the fight to Ward by one point. Had Flaherty scored the round 10 - 8, along with the other judges the fight would have been a draw. Gatti runs a greater risk if he fights Micky on the inside. Ward's plan will be to go right at Gatti and draw him into this style of fight, he knows Arturo's reputation and he will be hoping bravado will spark Gatti's "Thunder". This is very much a mental battle as well as physical as each fighter looks to create the rhythm. Ward has trouble against fighters who Box him and this was clear when Arturo took the Boxers approach. Micky is a come forward fighter who loves to fight up close. Ward has a sickening honey punch to the body that would trouble any world-class fighter. England's Shea Neary was on the receiving end of Wards up close attacks and he too produced the facial expressions of pain that Gatti later produced <b>...</b>
arturo
thunder
gatti
irish
micky
ward
rematch
second
fight
II
boxing
fighter
fighting
heart
blood
and
guts
warrior
pride