Bad Left Hook on Arturo Gatti

SC at Bad Left Hook has the definitive Arturo Gatti retrospective. Here's the intro, go read the whole thing for recaps of all Gatti's great fights, video and analysis of his place in the sport.

For Arturo "Thunder" Gatti, there was never a fight too dangerous, never a chance in the ring too risky to take, and never an opponent too daunting a task. When news came down the wire on Saturday that the 37-year old Gatti was killed in Brazil, it almost didn't seem real to me. Gatti was dead? How?

With boxing and any other combat sport, there's always that risk that any fight will be someone's last. Gatti's epic wars often seemed as though they were riding on that frightening line. There he'd be in center ring: Pouring blood, eyes swollen shut, arms exhausted and dangling, throwing desperation shots and sometimes receiving twice as many back. He had an unreal ability to take punishment, smile through the pain, and carry on doing his job.

The tragic end of his life means, sadly, that we now are left only with the memories of his in-ring career. The silver lining is what amazing memories they truly are.

BLH also has coverage of Gatti's wife being charged with murder.