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“That Was Before Illegal Streaming and Fire Stick Scammers”: Fans Go Down Memory Lane as CEO of Floyd Mayweather’s Promotion Reminisces About Their First PPV Against Late Arturo Gatti

Published 12/17/2023, 10:55 PM EST

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On June 25, 2005, Floyd Mayweather faced Arturo Gatti for the WBC junior welterweight title. Mayweather dominated the fight, showcasing his superior skill, speed, and reflexes. Despite Gatti’s reputation as a warrior, Mayweather’s performance turned the bout into a pay-per-view spectacle. From the start, Mayweather displayed his prowess, and controversy arose when Gatti complained to the referee about a break. Mayweather capitalized on the situation, flooring Gatti with a quick left hook. As the fight progressed, Mayweather unleashed damaging combinations, leading to visible swelling around Gatti’s eyes and mouth. Trainer Buddy McGirt, a former two-weight world titleholder, made the call to end the fight before Round 7, recognizing the evident mismatch. Mayweather’s victory marked a pivotal moment, establishing him as a top pound-for-pound fighter and headlining his first pay-per-view event. Recently, a clip from the fight surfaced on Twitter that showed Mayweather unleashing a flurry of shots at Gatti.

The video showed how helpless Gatti appeared to be when facing Mayweather’s shots. Interestingly, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions also chimed in and shared the post with his followers. He also pointed out, “Floyd’s first ppv was with Gatti (RIP) did 350k ppv buys”. Although the number now appears to be small for the megastar Mayweather, at the time it was a big deal.

The video of Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs. Arturo Gatti leaves fans in nostalgia

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As Leonard Ellerbe took a stroll down memory lane, reminiscing about Mayweather’s first Pay-Per-View (PPV) encounter against the late Arturo Gatti, fans flooded social media with reactions of awe. One fan brought up the impact of illegal streaming on PPV sales. The fans questioned, “That was before illegal streaming and fire stick scammers. Leonard what’s the solution to illegal streaming?”

Another fan engaged in discussions about Mayweather’s skills and legacy, highlighting his dominance over Gatti. He wrote, “What Floyd did to Gatti… Jesus”.

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Meanwhile, one fan took the opportunity to appreciate Mayweather’s journey in the sport. He pointed out, “And Floyd was the B side wasn’t he? So once again he showed this generation that it takes time and a great team to reach the pinnacle of Boxing. There’s no short cuts.”

A fan pointed out how many started comparing Terence Crawford with Mayweather after his recent victory. He wrote, “And they think Crawford beats a prime Floyd”.

Another fan shared how life-changing the fight was for him, writing, “My first time watching Mayweather. Changed my life literally”.

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Overall, fans were praising Floyd Mayweather as the video brought them back to the time ‘Pretty Boy’ was still on a chase to prove himself. What do you think about the fight? Do share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

Chirag Radhyan

2,066Articles

One take at a time

My passion for sweet science began at the tender age of 12, a gift from my father who introduced me to the legendary persona of Muhammad Ali. In my heart, 'The Rumble in the Jungle' still remains to be the pinnacle of sporting history. Over the years, my fervor for boxing remained intact, although life's commitments sometimes deviated me from being a hardcore fan of the sport.
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Edited by:

Arijit Saha