ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - Arturo Gatti's career came to a painful and bloody end when he was battered by Alfonso Gomez and stopped in the seventh round Saturday night.
Fighting at 147 pounds proved to be too much for the two-time world champion, who failed in his bid to regain his place among boxing's top fighters.
"Hasta la vista, baby," the 35-year-old Gatti told HBO as blood flowed from his cut lip. "I can't be taking this abuse anymore."
A stunned crowd of 9,648 looked on with a mix of surprise and sadness as Gomez punished his former idol. The final round was especially painful for Gatti and his fans who had witnessed so many previous travails and triumphs.
"I'm coming back ... as a spectator," Gatti told Main Events president Kathy Duva in his dressing room. "I'm retired."
Gomez, a product of the TV reality series "The Contender," was hand-picked for this fight by Gatti's manager (Pat Lynch), promoter (Main Events) and network (HBO). They all viewed Gomez as the perfect foil, a fighter who has the kind of aggressive style that plays to Gatti's strengths, but also lacks the power to hurt him.
That wasn't the case.
Gomez (17-3-2), who had only seven knockouts in his previous 21 fights, hurt Gatti early with a four-punch combination, then battered him with punch after powerful punch while trainer Micky Ward, the rest of Gatti's corner and the crowd looked on.
Midway through the seventh round, as Gomez was landing 44 of 60 power shots, Gatti was helpless against the ropes.
He occasionally threw a weak right hand, but was soon overwhelmed again by Gomez's nonstop attack. Yet, no one in Gatti's corner - Ward, Lynch or anyone else - made a move to stop it. Neither did referee Randy Neumann.
When Gomez landed a powerful right hand that finally caused Gatti to sag to the canvas, Neumann started a 10 count. He barely got halfway through it before New Jersey Control Board commissioner Larry Hazzard, a former referee, stepped into the ring and stopped the fight.
"He was taking a lot of shots," Gomez said. "It looked like the referee likes him and wouldn't stop it. I was also looking to his corner to see if Micky would do something."
Gatti had a few moments when he looked ready to recapture the magic that carried him to two world titles and countless other thrilling victories. But it wasn't nearly enough to hold off Gomez.
"I was well-prepared. I'm just sad for my team," Gatti said. "I did my best, I just wasn't strong enough for Gomez."
Gomez turned the fight in his favor for good in the fourth, when a four-punch combination touched off a minute-long assault. At the end of the round, Gatti trudged back to his corner with blood streaming from his mouth.
When it was over, Gatti forced his way out of the ring and sprinted back toward his dressing room, oblivious to cheers from his ever-loyal fans.
"I feel a sense of closure now," Duva said. "I think Arturo needed to know with absolute certainty that it was time to stop and he knows it now. He wishes it could go on forever, but it can't. This is the end of his career."
In the co-feature, Kermit Cintron showed that he belongs among the best welterweights by posting a second-round knockout over Walter Mathysse.
As soon as the bout ended, Cintron jumped on the ring post, let out a scream and pounded his tattooed chest while the crowd roared. Mathysse remained flat on the canvas for several minutes before leaving the ring under his own power.
"I feel like I proved myself," Cintron said. "I feel like I proved myself as a real welterweight champion."
Fighting at 147 pounds proved to be too much for the two-time world champion, who failed in his bid to regain his place among boxing's top fighters.
"Hasta la vista, baby," the 35-year-old Gatti told HBO as blood flowed from his cut lip. "I can't be taking this abuse anymore."
A stunned crowd of 9,648 looked on with a mix of surprise and sadness as Gomez punished his former idol. The final round was especially painful for Gatti and his fans who had witnessed so many previous travails and triumphs.
"I'm coming back ... as a spectator," Gatti told Main Events president Kathy Duva in his dressing room. "I'm retired."
Gomez, a product of the TV reality series "The Contender," was hand-picked for this fight by Gatti's manager (Pat Lynch), promoter (Main Events) and network (HBO). They all viewed Gomez as the perfect foil, a fighter who has the kind of aggressive style that plays to Gatti's strengths, but also lacks the power to hurt him.
That wasn't the case.
Gomez (17-3-2), who had only seven knockouts in his previous 21 fights, hurt Gatti early with a four-punch combination, then battered him with punch after powerful punch while trainer Micky Ward, the rest of Gatti's corner and the crowd looked on.
Midway through the seventh round, as Gomez was landing 44 of 60 power shots, Gatti was helpless against the ropes.
He occasionally threw a weak right hand, but was soon overwhelmed again by Gomez's nonstop attack. Yet, no one in Gatti's corner - Ward, Lynch or anyone else - made a move to stop it. Neither did referee Randy Neumann.
When Gomez landed a powerful right hand that finally caused Gatti to sag to the canvas, Neumann started a 10 count. He barely got halfway through it before New Jersey Control Board commissioner Larry Hazzard, a former referee, stepped into the ring and stopped the fight.
"He was taking a lot of shots," Gomez said. "It looked like the referee likes him and wouldn't stop it. I was also looking to his corner to see if Micky would do something."
Gatti had a few moments when he looked ready to recapture the magic that carried him to two world titles and countless other thrilling victories. But it wasn't nearly enough to hold off Gomez.
"I was well-prepared. I'm just sad for my team," Gatti said. "I did my best, I just wasn't strong enough for Gomez."
Gomez turned the fight in his favor for good in the fourth, when a four-punch combination touched off a minute-long assault. At the end of the round, Gatti trudged back to his corner with blood streaming from his mouth.
When it was over, Gatti forced his way out of the ring and sprinted back toward his dressing room, oblivious to cheers from his ever-loyal fans.
"I feel a sense of closure now," Duva said. "I think Arturo needed to know with absolute certainty that it was time to stop and he knows it now. He wishes it could go on forever, but it can't. This is the end of his career."
In the co-feature, Kermit Cintron showed that he belongs among the best welterweights by posting a second-round knockout over Walter Mathysse.
As soon as the bout ended, Cintron jumped on the ring post, let out a scream and pounded his tattooed chest while the crowd roared. Mathysse remained flat on the canvas for several minutes before leaving the ring under his own power.
"I feel like I proved myself," Cintron said. "I feel like I proved myself as a real welterweight champion."
