Scratching a hole right through my head on these honestly. I can't for the life of me discount Gatti at 140 removed from first Ward fight having a serious go at any. One thing that I think is always over looked and tossed out is that Gatti -had- some pretty dern good hand speed and knew how to box. He wasn't a thudding slow plodder -always- taking three to give one...I know it sound nuts.

Mitchell had preservation probs after Kostya one. He really looked to extend things and seemed to be watching the clock. Southpaw style and while he was crisp he could be taken off stride and got a lil roughed up by Ndou leading right to Kostya peeling him off the bottom of his boot in rematch. Mentally and hooks I give to Gatti though he'd have to cut him off and then down and I think he could.....and who was Judah fielding punches from that saw him as a sure thing? He'd been put on his wallet earlier vs lesser guys and as was proven in the chicken dance he lacked the mental make up to have a fire fight and or absord a stiff ooopsy shot from a banger like Arturo. Maybe career hindsight handcuffs Zab but this too would have been a marquee major name. For hands and guaranteed four rounds I go Judah...after that as history would prove, all bets are off.

Kostya vs Gatti would have been a Sat night delight. Flip a coin...honestly. I could easily see Gatti playing the boxer to Tszyus extended jab and sliding foot. In close I think Kostya wrecks his body but again, as with the others, they had not imo faced an equal in proven all out one shot hitter as Gatti presented, and he knew how to position it. Kostya was off layoffs and would not be facing a guy throwing nerfballs like a Tackie or Leija. I can see Tzsyu being head strong-focused enough and deliberate to get to Gatti as it went much more than a Judah or Mitchell. He'd take lumps and might even get dropped but his short busting punches do a number on Gatti....It may of all been moot though after Gatti vs Ward 1...no doubt those two needed to rematch and were tied together after that. Still not convinced third had to happen...think HBO pressed harder than anyone else involved.