“This Was Painful to Watch”: Rare Poster Reminds Fans of Floyd Mayweather’s “Total Beatdown” of His Opponent on Fight Anniversary

Published 06/26/2023, 5:50 AM EDT

Imagine being catapulted back to a pivotal moment in boxing history with just a glimpse of a weathered poster. An eerie quietude descends, as the echo of leather gloves colliding and the clamor of the awestruck crowd rebound in your memory. This isn’t any ordinary boxing match. It’s a spectacle etched in the annals of the sport, where skill, speed, and tenacity collided in a defining spectacle – the “Thunder & Lightning” match featuring Floyd Mayweather vs. Arturo Gatti. The memory lane is often paved with nostalgia and, at times, a profound sense of bittersweet longing.

Dan Rafael happens to be a celebrated boxing writer and he knows this all too well. Recently, he posted a photo of an extremely rare poster on his Facebook page from the Mayweather vs. Gatti match. But here’s an unusual twist: this poster wasn’t simply a memento, it was a relic displayed at Bally’s Atlantic City during that fateful fight week, 18 years ago. The riveting story this relic unfolds and the fan reactions it elicited is something you wouldn’t want to miss. But why would a poster stir up such a commotion?

Fan reactions: Diverse perspectives on the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Arturo Gatti match

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The Mayweather vs. Gatti match, for the uninitiated, was an emphatic display of Mayweather’s brilliance in the ring. He dominated the fight, delivering an unrelenting onslaught against Gatti. He ultimately secured a technical knockout victory. Fans of the sport had mixed feelings about this defining event.

Bo Crump encapsulated his feelings in a short but poignant statement, “This was painful to watch.” The emotional impact of the match wasn’t lost on fans either. Lysander Smith, summarizing the bout in his own way, simply labeled it as a “total beatdown.”

Coleman Chestnut, weighing in on the match, painted a picture of Gatti as a beleaguered warrior. He stated, “Gatti had a lot of mileage on him that’s why he was a punching bag for Floyd that night! I mean Floyd would have beat a prime Gatti too, but he would have put up a way better fight.”

Craig Mogilovsky brought a mix of disbelief and nostalgia to the conversation. He said, “Remember watching this! Can’t believe it’s 18 years! Floyd was so fast and Gatti had so much heart.”

Julius White Jr. reflected on Mayweather’s confidence going into the fight. He recalled Floyd’s quote, “There is no way in hell, someone with 7 losses is gonna beat me”. A prophecy that Mayweather indeed fulfilled that night.

Each fan reaction adds a unique perspective to our understanding of the Mayweather vs. Gatti match, painting a nuanced picture of that fateful night. So as we look back at Mayweather’s “total beatdown” of Gatti, it’s not the victory that defines this memory, but the fight itself. The heart, the passion, and the sheer determination that each fighter brought into the ring.

Also read: Billionaire Floyd Mayweather Shares Adorable Video of His Grandson in Car

In the grand scheme of boxing history, it was this fight that contributed to Mayweather’s legacy as one of the greatest smaller weight fighters. It also solidified Gatti’s reputation as a warrior who fought with all his heart.

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Written by:

Mrinal Mishra is a Boxing writer at EssentiallySports, who is dedicated to covering live events with a special emphasis on influencer boxing events. With a focus on storytelling, Mishra strives to bring to light the stories of fighters that often go untold. As a big fan of Mike Tyson, Mishra believes that boxing will remain relevant for eternity, and he is committed to covering the sport with the respect and admiration it deserves.

Edited by:

Snigdhaa Jaiswal