ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - It took six years, 12 rounds and a broken hand, but Arturo Gatti has finally reached the mountaintop once again.
Gatti became a champion for the second time in his career by earning a unanimous decision over Gianluca Branco for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title.
In front of an energetic Atlantic City audience, Gatti used his superior boxing skills to jab and pepper Branco with a straight right hand.
The fight was never close, but Branco did have his moments. Apparently not blessed with any power, Branco occasionally countered with right hands, swelling the left eye of Gatti.
However, shut eyes and bruised features are not unique to the native Montrealer, who continued to fight on with his superior hand speed and footwork.
In the fifth round, Gatti attempted a body shot that unfortunately landed on the Italian's hip, fracturing his right hand.
"I won the bout with my heart and my boxing skills," said Gatti, who broke his hand in the fifth round. "Just when I started feeling comfortable I hurt my right hand."
The tenth round saw fireworks as both men exchanged punches in the center of the ring. Gatti came back with a devastating left hook after an off balanced right hand.
"After I went down in the 10th round I felt I couldn't win the fight. Gatti had a lot of speed. Gatti's a courageous guy who comes forward all the time, and I was right with him," Branco said.
With the loss, Branco drops to 32-1-1 (15 KOs). Gatti improves to 37-6 (28 KOs) and looks forward to a rumored duel with transplanted Canadian Leonard Dorin in Montreal.
"I would love to do that fight. As you know I am from there, and they deserve to see a defense of my belt," Gatti concluded.
Bojado Earns Unanimous Decision
In other action, junior welterweight Francisco "Panchito" Bojado won a 10-round unanimous decision against Emmanuel Clottey in the co-feature. The judges scored the bout 99-92, 97-93 and 97-93.
"I think I could have done better," Bojado said.
Bojado improves to 15-1 (11 KOs), while Clottey drops to 21-6 (14 KOs).
"I give myself a 6 (on a scale of 1-10). He was very awkward the way he came in. These are the type of fighters I can get a lot of experience against," Bojado said.
