Is Arturo Gatti Hall of Fame worthy ??

[holmcall]

There's really noone even close is there?

Matthew Saad Mohammed who was a "Gatti before Gatti." And that is the ultimate compliment for Gatti most likely.

Well ODLH brings the crowds every fight. So there's one.

BUT Oscar IS A SLAM DUNK. A good argument could be made that if Saad is in, then Gatti should be in. Saad messed up his legacy with abunch of terrible losses at the end when he was shot and should not have been fighting. Gatti only had two of these. (Gomez and Baldami-spelling). I did see hime lose once in Philly to a guy named King Solomon.

[killersheep]

Matthew Saad Mohammed who was a "Gatti before Gatti." And that is the ultimate compliment for Gatti most likely.

Well ODLH brings the crowds every fight. So there's one.

BUT Oscar IS A SLAM DUNK. A good argument could be made that if Saad is in, then Gatti should be in. Saad messed up his legacy with abunch of terrible losses at the end when he was shot and should not have been fighting. Gatti only had two of these. (Gomez and Baldami-spelling). I did see hime lose once in Philly to a guy named King Solomon.

That's the point really he made the general public want to back him and want to watch his fights. Plus he had a legendary trilogy, he filled seats and made for exciting fights up until the end of his career. It's not as if 40-9 is bad record.

[Beanflicker]

Hell there are guys his level or worse in the Hall of Fame. What the hell was so great about Carmen Basilio? What did he ever do besides be insanely tough and durable (like Gatti) and win a close split decision against a damn-near-40 Sugar Ray Robinson?

[Spicoli]

One of the problems is that the so-called experts who vote are too young to really remember some of the guys who deserve to get in. Also, they keep the process secretive so that the criteria remain unknown. If we knew what the standards were, we could make a better judgement on this. I know a number of people who are voters and believe me when I say this, many of the posters here and on other good sites know more about boxing and boxing history than the writers who vote. I no longer pay much attention to what they do there. I just enjoy going there and having a good time every June. But I do support the heck out of the Hall financially speaking. IT'S FOR A GOOD CAUSE AND IT PUTS MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS. That is all on this subject except to say that many of the posts have me reconsidering Gatti's worthiness.

Right,I also think alot of it is the "seeing is believing" mind set.It is a U.S based entity afterall.The Asian greats you listed for example.Here in the States when many of them were coming through, it was hard to see them,rare exposure in general.I only found Chang (fearless great Imo),Arbachakov,Kittakasem (Gatti-Esq ??),Yuh (should be a lock H.O.F'r) through trading tapes and it was like finding an entirely new world of "mystery" top flight fighters....literally.

Also the old-timers in the H.O.F as they sit today.We can not really debate A Harry Grebs skill set as As far as I know no footage exist.But from everything I read and discussed in Interviews he was hardly a masterful top skill for skill fighter.But no lack of pure excitement and unbridled fury.Alot of those guys back then transcended the sport and the ring.

That being said.....If Paz gets in,Im canceling my account and taking up table tennis .

[holmcall]

Agreed on that Paz comment!