Gatti vs Baldomir Play By Play

Snow Patrol · 07-22-2006, 11:14 PM

Gatti's record is displayed as 40-7 with 31 KOs. He's 7-1 with 4 KOs in title fights which this is. Baldomir is 42-9-6 with 12 KOs. Pretty sucky record, however, he's 18-0-2 since his loss to Joshua Clottey in 1999. Neither fighter looks at each other while referee gives instructions. Gatti puts his head down and looks at the floor while Baldomir looks over his head.

Round 1

Both miss with their jabs frequently. Gatti blocks Baldomir's power punches with his arms. Gatti partially lands a left hook while Baldomir backs up. Baldomir lands a good right hand while crowd chants "Gatti, Gatti." Gatti partially lands a big uppercut. Good left hook lands for Gatti. Gatti taking some big swings with his left hand, but they miss. 3 jabs in a row land for Baldomir. Heads clash and Baldomir walks away complaining to the referee. But no blood on either fighter. Good left lands on Gatti while he backs away. Gatti lands a good left hook at a strange angle. Great left hook lands on Gatti when he backs up to the corner as the bell rings.

Round even
10 - 10

Snow Patrol · 07-22-2006, 11:16 PM

Round 2

Good jab on Gatti. Baldomir bouncing up and down. Lands an excellent lead right. Lands a jab. Gatti not punching nearly as often this round. Now Gatti swings hard but misses. Baldomir lands a big lead right whle Gatti was throwing a right of his own. Gatti lands a left. Gatti not doing as well this round as he seems to be looking for a knockout for some reason so early. Gatti partially lands a left hook.

Round to Baldomir
19 - 20 Baldomir

Snow Patrol · 07-22-2006, 11:17 PM

Round 3

Strangely Baldomir dodges Gatti's punches and then turns around when clinched. But Gatti doesn't take advantage. Baldomir lands 2 lead rights very well. Baldomir just swung wildly completely missing a right and left hook. Lead right lands on Gatti again. Gatti lands a left hook right after. Left hook lands for Baldomir. Baldomir hurting Gatti. Baldomir pats his stomach after Gatti hits him there. Baldomir lands a lead right. wow, both fighters non-stop landing bombs for 10 seconds up until the bell. But Gatti leaves a little hurt towards his corner.

Round to Baldomir
28 - 30 Baldomir

Snow Patrol · 07-22-2006, 11:19 PM

Round 4

This is turning out to be some exciting fight with that last exchange. They played it back in slow motion and Gatti ate the biggest left hook to the jaw. Gatti eats another of Baldomir's lead rights giving Baldomir a nice smile. Baldomir is too much for Gatti. Gatti needs to land a huge punch to get back in this. Lampley and Steward both suggest the possibility of Gatti coming back with a knockout just after I wrote that. Baldomir landing power punches 1 at a time. Gatti lands a beautiful right hand in the corner. But Baldomir took it like a pawing jab. Gatti's cheek looks really bad.

Round to Baldomir
37 - 40 Baldomir

Snow Patrol · 07-22-2006, 11:23 PM

Round 5

Steward demonstrates that great right hand while displaying it in slow motion. But it wasn't as great as it seemed while it happened live. Gatti jabbing nicely this round. Hasn't allowed Baldomir to land anything decent so far. Gatti lands a right hand. Good defense by Gatti. Now he eats some punches by Baldomir. Baldomir starting to land. Gatti doesn't look good. Huge left hook allows Gatti to survive this round as it stops Baldomir from punching! 2 big right leads land for Baldomir. Gatti still in major trouble. Gatti lands a big left hook! Unbelievable. Just when Gatti looks like he's absorbing too much to stay on his feet he lands something big of his own. Baldomir landing too many power punches though. Huge round for Baldomir.

Round to Baldomir
46 - 50 Baldomir

Snow Patrol · 07-22-2006, 11:30 PM

Round 6

Slow motion replays must be painful for Gatti fans to watch. I'm tempted to say Baldomir is dominating, but with those bombs from nowhere landing for Gatti who knows. Baldomir hits Gatti towards his stomach and Gatti looks very hurt. Shakes his right hand as if he broke it. Now he turns away and Baldomir hesitates with confusion and then goes towards him. Referee breaks them up not knowing what to do and Gatti throws a punch around the referee to Baldomir. Not sure what just happened, but fight resumes and continues the way it did before with Baldomir landing more of the bigger punches. Crowd now chanting Gatti's name. Good body punch lands for Baldomir and then a lead right before the bell. Gatti goes to the corner and McGirt asks what happened to his arm if it's alright. Gatti responds with a simple "yeah."

Round to Baldomir
55 - 60 Baldomir

Snow Patrol · 07-22-2006, 11:33 PM

Round 7

Lederman has the fight 55-59 for Baldomir having given the first round to Gatti. Slower pace this round with Gatti doing a better job blocking with his gloves. However, he's still getting hit worse than he's hitting Baldomir. Baldomir just landed a nice lead right. Then eats a jab. Left hook lands to Gatti's midsection. Baldomir landing some nice jabs. Baldomir trying to land those lead rights and sometimes does. Gatti eats a good left hook before the bell.

Round to Baldomir, pretty easy fight to score so far except for that first round
64 - 70 Baldomir

Snow Patrol · 07-22-2006, 11:37 PM

Round 8

Baldomir's corner tells him to bend his waste and then he won't be so tired. Is Baldomir tired already? Larry Merchant suggests that Buddy McGirt is trying to get Gatti to fight a way he's not capable of. Gatti comes out strong trying to land big punches this round. And does land some punches. But then eats some by Baldomir. Gatti falls down somehow, but not from a punch, and Merchant says that's his best move all night . Gatti does look a lot faster than Baldomir and shows glimpses of great boxing. Gets the commentators excited and they suggest that if he could just keep doing this he could get into the fight. Merchant shouts "wishful thinking guys." Baldomir partially lands a lead right. The exchange and Gatti goes down! But the referee calls it a slip when he sees Gatti get right back up. Strange. We'll see the replay. Baldomir lands a low blow and then apologizes and tries to pat Gatti's head as a show of sportsmanship.

Round to Gatti
74 - 79 Baldomir

Snow Patrol · 07-22-2006, 11:40 PM

Round 9

Slow motion definitely shows a slip in Gatti's last trip to the canvas. Gatti eats some big punches and then sits and bounces on the ropes. Strange but it confuses Baldomir enough to not throw much. Baldomir lands a good jab. Huge right hand lands on Gatti and Gatti looks hurt. Baldomir attacks non-stop as he sees Gatti hurt. Gatti's mouthpiece goes out and Gatti does that trick of sitting on the ropes again. Baldomir thinks he went down, I guess the intention. Gatti throws from the ropes to surprise Baldomir. Gatti finally goes down after so many debilitating punches. Gatti is in very serious trouble but somehow manages to get up. Baldomir jumps on him and Gatti goes down badly. Referee stops the fight immediately.

TKO of the 9th round for Baldomir