COMPUBOX AT RINGSIDE
July 24, 2006
Seconds in round three Saturday night at the sold out Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Arturo Gatti landed a smashing right hand to the chin of Carlos Baldomir, the same right hand that dropped James Leija, froze Mickey Ward and iced Gabriel Ruelas -- what was Baldomir's reaction? He laughed off Gatti's Sunday punch, pointed to his heart then proceeded to back Gatti off with successive right hands...game, set, match...Baldomir.
From that point on, Baldomir, who's been fighting at welterweight his entire career and walks around at 180 lbs., outlanded Gatti 198-93 in power shots- highlighted by a 51 of 79 (65%) barrage in round five and a fight (and possible career)-ending 40 of 80 in round nine. The welterweight average is 13 power shots landed per round.
|
| FIGHTERS |
Carlos Baldomir |
Arturo Gatti |
| TOTAL PUNCHES |
| Thrown |
562 |
445 |
| Connected |
267 |
161 |
| % |
48% |
36% |
| JABS |
| Thrown |
117 |
219 |
| Connected |
41 |
45 |
| % |
35% |
21% |
| POWER PUNCHES |
| Thrown |
445 |
226 |
| Connected |
226 |
116 |
| % |
51% |
51% |
| JUDGES SCORECARDS |
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|
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In between, Baldomir even held his own in the jab department (he landed 41 jabs to 45 for Gatti) vs. the now-tamed Gatti, who averaged just 49 total punches thrown per round in the fourth thru eighth frames. Heck, Gatti landed 31 total punches per round (throwing 82) in the rematch and rubber matches with Mickey Ward.
After throwing a career-low 36 total punches in round eight, Gatti went out on his shield in the ninth. Baldomir, as he had done successfully all night, swarmed Gatti, trapped him on the ropes, then landed a left hook that dropped Arturo. Gatti beat the count, then hit the canvas again after another barrage of Baldomir leather found its mark.
Overall, Baldomir landed 267 of his 562 total punches (48%) to 161 of 445 (36%) for Gatti. Baldomir also scored on 226 of 445 (51%) power shots, an average of 25 landed per round, twice the welterweight average. Gatti also landed 51% of his power shots, but connected on just 116 of 226- none of which had any visible effect on the granite-chinned defending champ, who even landed 35% of his jabs to 21% for Gatti.
What's next for each fighter? Gatti hinted at retirement (a solid call). As for Baldomir, who received $1 million for the Gatti defense, he's still hungry. He reportedly was selling feather dusters on the streets of his native Argentina after the Judah win (he earned just $100,000 for that career-changing win). He called out pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather who has a November 4 HBO-PPV date and no dance partner. Baldomir's undefeated in his last 21 fights (19-0-2) and hasn't lost in more than 7 1/2 years. Will Floyd find a way out of this fight as well? Stay tuned.
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