Is Arturo Gatti Hall of Fame worthy ??

[CFH]

I'd say yes, but I guess it depends of the criteria the Hall has. Like everyone has said, skill wise Gatti was not HoF worthy, but taking into account the whole picture I would definitely say yes.

[ICB]

yea hes HOF material. especially since he had 3 great fights with Ward that are unforgetable so yea he is.

But what has that got to do with anything ? the fact that all his great fights come against lower class opposition like Micky Ward speaks volumes. Since when do all exciting fighters just get a free pass into HOF ?

So because Micky Ward was an exciting fighter and was in many FOTY candidates. Does he deserve to be in the HOF aswell ? because surely he done as much for the sport as Arturo Gatti did. Going by your logic ?

Mickey Ward didn't hold belts in two divisions. He was never top 5 in any weight-class (Gatti was at 130 and maybe for a bit at 140). Gatti was a top 10 fighter in 4 divisions.

And say what you want about Mickey Ward, after his comeback, he had some quality wins - KO'd Reggie Green, KO'd Shea Neary (in the UK), Augustus. Taking 2 of 3 from Ward was worth something, especially because he beat him pretty easily in the second two fights.

Why not Meldrick Taylor then ? he held two belts in two weight classes, and he was just as entertaining as Arturo Gatti ETC, i just think HOF should only be for the great fighters.

Arturo Gatti was never the top man in any division he was in, and everytime he stepped up to the elite level he was beaten badly. Losing to Angel Manfredy, Ivan Robinson x2. While in your prime is no way worthy of HOF.

And even Arturo Gatti's best wins are nothing that stand out. Just because Arturo Gatti was exciting doesn't mean he gets a free pass. Because theres probably fighters with equal achievements who wern't as exciting. And they don't get a free pass so i don't see why Arturo Gatti should.

I agree he done alot for the sport excitement wise but again shouldn't HOF, be about wins/opposition/titles/skill ETC ? i think its flawed logic just to let any fighter in because they were exciting. Because if thats the case why do we have a HOF ? to seperate the great fighters from the good fighters. And can you honestly tell me that Arturo Gatti was a great fighter ?

[OumaFan]

I don't think so. I don't think as a pure fighter, he's anywhere near the Hall of Fame level, its just a question of whether all the other stuff makes up for it.

And yes I know the McGuigan effect but at some point that has to stop.

[OumaFan]

Looking at the votes, people that I usually agree with a lot are on the other side. Oh well, I just don't think he quite is.

I'm sure he will get in though.

[Spicoli]

I don't think the main criteria for adminitance is souly all out boxing skill 101.Maybe it should be but thats a bit narrowminded Imo.Take into account the impact factor,propelling the sport into the main stream.Think about it....in 15,20 or so years when Another fan generation comes up I think he will be defined 1st or last name alone.

Much better skills early on,had his share of showcase type lesser matches that made him look the balls out brawler of media folk lore we have come to know.I can definatly see both sides but I think he gets in.

[holmcall]

No, no and no. Not ever.

[C-Lo]

If someone can get into the hall of fame for being exciting, then he's in for sure.

But I don't see him as an elite fighter or even a great fighter, just someone fun to watch. I don't see someone getting inducted if he fought 2 future HOFers and was not anywhere near competitive in those fights.

[holmcall]

If Gatti gets in, open the gates becuase here comes the flood.

[Kel]

If Gatti gets in, open the gates becuase here comes the flood.

I agree, great fighter but just not great enough.

[Pugilistic]

I like him but no.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

This can be answered very simply( I hate this debate )

Definition of a hall of fame is a building housing or list of people who have performed notable achievements in a sport...

If there is someone on this site who can validly argue that Gatti's carreer, heart and memorable fights were not noteable then they don't know boxing...

Was Gatti the most skilled of all time? Not even close... But that's not what getting into the hall entails...

C'mon, guys... This debate should have been put to sleep after Gatti Ward II...

[RozzySean]

If Gatti gets in, open the gates becuase here comes the flood.

Really. Who else goes in because Gatti opens the gate? What other fighters are comparable to him in terms of impact on the sport in the last 10 years that wouldn't get in anyway because of other achievements in the ring? As much as I love Shane Mosley, who has a much better resume, Gatti has had more impact on the sport. Gatti has brought more American fans back into boxing than almost anybody I can think of outside of the HW division. He was the face of boxing and the biggest draw on the East Coast for years. He was superb boxers turned blood and guts warrior, one of the most compelling and beloved figures in all of boxing. You would be hard pressed to find a person to say a bad word about Arturo Gatti.

An in regards to the Meldrick Taylor comment from earlier...Meldrick didn't have the impact on the sport that Gatti had. Meldrick was a great fighter and perhaps could have been HoF, but he didn't bring new fans in or create the buzz that Gatti created. He's not an ATG, but I think he's qualifies for the hall based on the McGuigan allowance for exceptional contribution to the sport. I don't think Meldrick Taylor or any other number of fighters comes close to his impact.

[holmcall]

If Gatti gets in, open the gates becuase here comes the flood.

Really. Who else goes in because Gatti opens the gate? What other fighters are comparable to him in terms of impact on the sport in the last 10 years that wouldn't get in anyway because of other achievements in the ring? As much as I love Shane Mosley, who has a much better resume, Gatti has had more impact on the sport. Gatti has brought more American fans back into boxing than almost anybody I can think of outside of the HW division. He was the face of boxing and the biggest draw on the East Coast for years. He was superb boxers turned blood and guts warrior, one of the most compelling and beloved figures in all of boxing. You would be hard pressed to find a person to say a bad word about Arturo Gatti.

An in regards to the Meldrick Taylor comment from earlier...Meldrick didn't have the impact on the sport that Gatti had. Meldrick was a great fighter and perhaps could have been HoF, but he didn't bring new fans in or create the buzz that Gatti created. He's not an ATG, but I think he's qualifies for the hall based on the McGuigan allowance for exceptional contribution to the sport. I don't think Meldrick Taylor or any other number of fighters comes close to his impact.

Danny "Littel Red" Lopez, Tone DeMarco, Paz, Benn, Eubanks, Collins, Dariuz, Nunn and the following:

South Korean

In-Chul Baek - 1980-1990
Jung-Koo “The Korean Hawk” Chang -1980-1991
In-Jin Chi -1991-2006
Soo-Hwan Hong - 1969-1980
Ki-Soo Kim- 1961-1969 (South Korea's first world boxing champion
Chong-Pal Park- 1977-1988
Myung-Woo “Sonagi” Yuh - 1983-1992

Japanese

Yuri Arbachakov -1990-1997 (alias Yuri Ebihara) Russian born but fought out of Japan and was the first Russian professional boxing champion)[/font]

Hiroyuki Ebihara- 1959-1969
Yoko “Fierce Eagle” Gushiken- 1974-1981Hiroshi Kobayashi - 1962-1971
Masao Ohba - 1966-1973 (Ohba was fatally injured in car accident in 1973Yoshio Shirai- 1943-1952[/font]

Masamori Tokuyama -1994-2006 (North Korean born but fought out of Japan
jiro Watanabe- 1979-1986

]Thai

Sot Chitalada - 1983-1992
Chartchai Chionoi- 1960-1975
Pone Kingpetch - 1954-1966
Muangchai “J-Okay” Kittikasem- 1988-1999
Samart Payakaroon-1982-1994 (Also was a legend of Muay Thai boxing)


Filipino

Luisito “Golden Boy” Espinosa -1984-2005
Rolando “Bad Boy from Dadiangas " Navarrete- 1973-1991
Jesus “The Hawaiian Punch” Salud-1983-2002 (Born in Philippines fights out of the U.S.)
Ben Villaflor - 1966-1976

Ceferino “Pedro” Garcia -1923-1945 (Was first] Filipino-American World Middleweight Boxing Champion inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame)

Your move, Ace.

[holmcall]

If Gatti, then Mancini

[RozzySean]

You can make a good case for the first set of names you listed. I don't have a problem with that. Steve Collins belongs in the HoF, IMO, probably Eubank, too. Mancini would get my vote.