I give Gatti all the respect that he deserves...look at my avatar...

Quote Originally Posted by amat
People seem to forget...it's the hall of FAME. FAME. The most famous baseball players get in to. It's just that in baseball, the most famous players are the best ones.

Gatti is perhaps the most famed fighter of this generation. How many FOTY's has he been in? I mean the guy leaves it ALL in the ring. If the requirements for the hall of fame was that they had to be the absolute best fighters from each and every generation then Gatti would be by no means a hall of famer. But the hall of fame is for guys who bettered the sport, advanced the sport (Gatti practically single handedly revived boxing in Atlantic City and to some extent New England), entertained fans and those who acheived fame. Gatti accomplished all that and then some. Sure the guys' accomplishments do have to be a factor aswell but he WAS a champion. I mean it's not like he spent his whole career on the underbelly of the contender list. The Hall of Fame is for people who deserve to be frozen in time alongside other legends, Arturo Gatti is LEGENDARY. He is this generations Carmen Basilio minus the victories over Sugar Ray (Basilio would have got even if he lost imo). He is this generation's Beau Jack or Tony Zale. Maybe not quite the number of wins as those guys, but guys who didn't have the skills of the elite fighters, guys who weren't world beaters but guys who were immensly popular and left their body in the ring everytime they went out.

Arturo Gatti is absolutely something I want people of future generations to be able to read about. He is a guy who doesn't ever deserve to be forgotten.Now I'm not saying his accomplishments are legendary, and he definitely isn't a hall of famer on paper, but it's the IBHOF's job to go past the notepad and enshrine him. He's first ballot imo no question. I'm surprised there is such a strong sentiment to keep him out to be honest.

It's not called the hall of BEST, it's the hall of fame. My favorite example is Beau Jack.There is a reason guys like Beau Jack is side by side with Kid Gavilan. Kid Gavilan beat the hell out of Jack and was regarded as one of his era's best. So of course Gavilan is in the hall. Jack is in because EVERYTIME fans came out to see Jack, he gave them exactly what they wanted to see. He gave them an exciting fight. Jack never once won a world title and his only real accomplishment was giving Ike Williams two hell of a fights and forcing a split decision draw. Gatti on the other hand has accomplished much more then Jack.

Let's not forget that Gatti was a damned good fighter. People rail on Mayweather for choosing him but remember, Gatti was not favored against Dorin. Dorin had just fought a bloody battle with the very good Paul Spadafora and got the short end of a bad decision. In 1995 he won his first title from Patterson and from 1995 to 2005 he was constantly at the top in or around title fights. That's 10 years and along the way gave us some of the most thrilling bouts a boxing fan has ever witnessed. So we're not just rewarding great fights but you have to do that too.

Gatti is a 1st ballot hall of famer and I am willing to bet that it's unanimous. I love the sweet boxers who are absolutely masters of their craft as much as the next guy and without any question at all they deserve a spot in the hall, but it can't be exclusively reserved for them. You have to have diversity, you have to be able to show future generations a guy like Pernell Whitaker and say, this is defense. Then guys like Ali and say that is how you outsmart your opponent. But then you also have to show guys like Gatti and show that this is how you give it your all and never sell anyone short.

Jeff Fenech is a guy who is in the hall of fame yet Gatti isn't? It's ridiculous to think that Gatti shouldn't or won't get in.
Can't agree more...