May 18th, 2002. At the Mohegan sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut one of the greatest fights in combat sports history transpired. A boxing match so immortalized, So universally revered and loved that it transcended the sport itself. Rarely if ever do we as fans get to see what we saw that Saturday night. The fight itself would be a back and forth affair ending in a majority decision win for one Micky Ward. I think I speak for everyone when I say that the scoring did not matter. Who you thought won or lost did not matter. What mattered was the display of will, heart, & character that we all bared witness too by both combatants. This is a real “comfort fight” for me and one that I routinely revisit every few months. If you haven’t seen it, exit out of this page and go watch it. It would truly be a disservice to initially absorb that fight through any medium but maybe least of all some guys article on the internet… If you have seen it, Then you know that my mere words can hardly due it justice but alas that’s the job of someone who writes. I will do my best to highlight, extrapolate and discuss this fight to my best ability. Don’t expect a lot of “technical analysis”, This fight is to be enjoyed and revered not critiqued and transcribed. With that being said I present to you “Testament” starring Arturo Gatti & Micky Ward.
Round 1:
The fight starts with Arturo getting on the bike immediately. Moving and initiating exchanges behind his jab and getting out of the way of counters. In this exchange you can see Arturo throw two jabs and pull back out of the way of each counter.
Round 2:
Round 3:
Round 4:
Round 5:
Round 6:
Round 7:
Round 8:
Round 9:
Round 10:
When I think back on the time I have spent in and around martial arts, They can be highlighted into chapters. Chapters that unfold into the story that is my personal journey. I think about the first time I saw a Bruce Lee movie. I think about the first pair of Boxing gloves I bought. I think about the fights I have seen and the fighters I idolized. I think this fight however, Is more akin to a critical life event for me at least in this context. There is me before I saw this fight and after. Every few months I come back and watch the trilogy and every time I do I find myself more and more and more enthralled. I think a lot of you can relate to a certain “glazing of the eyes” that can happen when you watch the sheer amount of fighting as I do. I have never felt even an inkling of that watching this fight. More than a fight, It was a visual representation of of the indomitable human spirit. A triumph over ones own psyche by both men. Beaten down, Battered and bruised. Exhausted physically and mentally under the sheer weight of expectation and a deep burning desire to be better. I’m forever grateful for “Irish” Micky Ward & Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, Not just for their boxing careers, But for the impact they had on me as a person. So to them and to you the reader I say thank you for allowing me to feel the tingly excited feeling we chase like junkies every time we turn on the tv. That being said I hope I was able to convey my feelings properly and I hope you learned a thing or two, About a thing or two…
Your’s Truly,
Smoke
Authors Note:
I really appreciate you sticking through this long read. By far the longest article I have ever written but simultaneously the most fun I have had writing! Trying to stick to a writing schedule is hard due to life but the plan is too continue writing about the things I love.