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McGirt: Gatti ready for Baldomir
www.fightnews.com
July 18, 2006
By Lisa Scott
Photo by Lisa Scott
This Saturday, fight fans could be in for an exciting night of boxing when Arturo Gatti takes on Carlos Baldomir (42-9-6; 12 KO's) for his WBC welterweight title on HBO. Both fighters are tough as nails, gutsy, determined and make the sport of boxing dramatic and exciting to watch.
Gatti (40-7; 31 KO's), a former super featherweight and welterweight champ, will look to win a title in a third weight class. With stupendous performances against Wilson Rodriguez, Ivan Robinson, Gabe Ruelas, Lenord Dorin and the legendary trilogy with Micky Ward, Arturo Gatti has long been boxing's most beloved fighter.
Last January, the 35 year old, Argentinian born Baldomir, earned kudos when he upset Zab Judah in a unanimous decision to win his very first world title. Baldomir's fighting style of straight forward, non-stop aggression, are components that can bring out the best in Gatti - and unleash a performance that is not often seen in boxing.
Fightnews spoke to Gatti's trainer, Buddy McGirt and this is what he had to say:
In 57 fights, Carlos Baldomir has only been knocked out once (and that was back in 1994), and he hasn't lost a fight since 1998. So, what's the game plan?
Well, the game plan is to box. We're not looking for the knockout. The key for us is to just look for the victory. However we get it, we get it. But this is how I see it... if a guy can be knocked out once, he can be knocked out again. But are we going in there with that attitude? No.
During his pro career, Baldomir has only scored 12 knockouts. Knowing this... and knowing Arturo's penchant for showing he can take a punch, it seems likely that Arturo will abandon the boxing and make it a war. Your thoughts?
With Baldomir, believe me, that is the last thing on Arturo's mind. Baldomir may only have 12 knockouts, but he's very strong. I'd rather fight a guy who can punch and is NOT strong, than a guy who CAN'T punch but is strong and aggressive - like Baldomir. With a guy who can punch, you know what to look for. But a guy like Baldomir, you don't know what the hell to look for. He's strong and dangerous. And all it takes is one well placed punch. You don't have to be a big puncher, but one well placed punch can change everything.
What did you think of Baldomir's performance against Judah?
I thought he did very good. He stayed focused and that is very often the key. That night he did what he was supposed to do and he left his mark, and unfortunately, Zab wasn't able to. With that victory, I'm sure Baldomir's confidence is very high, and that makes him even more dangerous. And, Baldmoir has a great trainer in Amilcar Brusa, who has been to the big dance plenty of times. So we have to be prepared for Baldomir AND Brusa.
Who has Arturo been sparring with?
A couple of guys. But I really don't want to say. But I will say that we had veeerrrryyy good boxing.
How are Arturo's hands holding up? You know... Baldomir has a head like a cinder block!
I know, so we're going to hit him between his neck and his waist (laughs). But really, Arturo's hands are great... thank God.
Recently, Arturo has become a proud father of a newborn girl. Usually, something like that can change the mental make-up of a fighter. Have you seen any changes in Arturo during this training camp?
Yeah. He's more hungrier. Now he feels he has something more to fight for... more than just himself. Arturo's work ethic has always been great. But since the birth of his daughter, he seems to have an extra boost. In the past, there were days when he'd say, ‘that's it!' But now, he'll push himself for that extra round. It's like he has a whole new outlook. In fact, he got a tattoo of his daughter's name on his left shoulder.
What was Arturo's training regimen for this fight? How did he occupy himself when he wasn't training?
Training for this fight was pretty much the same as always. He boxed in the morning and did his conditioning at night. Arturo came to camp in April, which was a little earlier than normal. In fact, during the first few weeks, I had to slow him down because he was getting a little carried away. On his down time, Arturo would play golf, or he would go to his favorite place... Blockbuster Video. Arturo has probably seen every movie in Blockbuster! In fact, he's probably pulled movies off the shelf that Blockbuster forgot they had! THEN, after Blockbuster.... he'd go to the movie theater!
You've been with Arturo since 2002, for a total of nine fights. During your time with him, which performances are you the most proudest of?
I'll say... all of them. They were all great victories. As far as the loss to Mayweather, Arturo trained hard and he was willing to stand up and fight the best. He fought a guy that no one else would fight. He didn't have to fight Mayweather! People were saying, ‘if you don't fight Mayweather, you'll get stripped.' But it's been shown lately that belts don't mean anything anymore. He fought Mayweather because he was the best, and for that... I'm proud of him.
Speaking of Mayweather, it was one of the biggest losses of Arturo's career. What was Arturo's frame of mind after that fight, and right before Damgaard?
After Mayweather, I told him: ‘Number one: Don't be down on yourself because you lost to a great fighter. You didn't lose to no bum. You lost to the best guy out there and there was nothing to be ashamed of. Number two: You stood up and fought a guy that you didn't have to fight. Number three: Don't worry about it. Put it behind you and keep moving on.' And, that what Arturo did. He put it behind him. It's waaay behind him.
Arturo is one of the gutsiest fighters the sport has seen in many years. What characteristics does he have that separate him from other fighters?
Everyone knows that Arturo is a guy who will put his nuts and guts on the line. It's something special. It's something that he was born with. It's not something you can ‘learn' to be. But people don't know that the ring is Arturo's world. He is more comfortable being in the ring than he is anywhere else. When he's in the ring, he's at home. And in the gym? Forget about it! He's the same way in the gym... if you let him. I'll give you an example. If he feels a sparring partner is trying to show off, he'll try to do his thing. But I'm there to make sure he doesn't kill the guy. I want him to save it for the ring.
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Originally Posted by miles
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