BOXING.COM COMMENTARY
Boxing's legendary Main Events promoter was quoted as saying,"...Arturo Gatti is in a good fight even when he shadow boxes. "This coming from a man that has seen and done it all, but most importantly an expert that predicted the overshadowing of the Lennox Lewis-Andrew Golota fight by the undercard firecracker Gatti. No two ways about it--Arturo Gatti puts on a great show. TO HELL AND BACK BOXING.COM fans, we're all in for a treat tonight!

BOXING.COM COMMENTARY
Angel "El Diablo" Manfredy turned professional at the scrappy age of 18, making his pro debut in 1993 against Charles McClennan. These were to be one of his toughest fights as he was KO'd for the first and only time. Angel Manfredy has since matured in the ring and continues his to road to glory; achieving the most feared junior lightweights today. "El Diablo" raises hell tonight.

BOXING.COM COMMENTARY
A throw back to the old days of hyper-flurry scrappers, Canadian-born Arturo Gatti usually doesn't win any beauty contests after his bouts. He can take a punch, and because of this, his face usually swells beyond recognition. Gatti is a tough kid. He's broken his hand, he's cut open his face and he still rises to the occasion. Coming into a brand new Junior Lightweight division should just heighten the experience for us all!

BOXING.COM COMMENTARY
Traveling all the way to South Africa, Angel "El Diablo" Manfredy kicked Zulu butt last summer when he KO'd local demi-god Mitobali Mhlophe in round 5. He defended his honor that night...what will happen in the ring tonight? Will Manfredy steal the "Thunder" from Arturo Gatti? Will we see more flurries than an east-coast winter storm?

BOXING.COM COMMENTARY
"I love everything about the sport of boxing. I am good at it. It is all about fighting and the one-on-one competition. It is the best sport in the world. You have to be very dedicated in the ring, out of the ring and in the gym to be a world champion�. Arturo "Thunder" Gatti.

BOXING.COM COMMENTARY
Growing up in both Gary, Indiana and East Chicago, Illinois (USA) made Angel "El Diablo" Manfredy grow up fast. His Business Manager/Brother says, "Where we grew up, it was predominately minorities. Angel is not your average Latino. He has blue eyes and sandy brown hair, when he has hair. So he looks Caucasian. So because of that, he was picked on. Caucasians were minorities in our neighborhoods. He became a real scrapper at an early age because when he was teased, he wouldn't back off; he wouldn't allow people to pick on him. I guess he developed this from growing up with older brothers as well as in the streets."

BOXING.COM COMMENTARY
When asked on prior occasions on what he doesn't like about our favorite gladiator sport, Gatti has responded "What I hate about boxing?... the little guys don't get paid enough".

LET'S GET READY TO RRRRRUMBLE!
Angel "El Diablo" Manfredy has entered the arena! Manfredy came in with a red devil's mask on. Michael Buffer is on! As he's getting introduced, "El Diablo" is looking up to the sky as if to talk to God. He's very religious these days, pointing his glove up to the sky. Very ominous...his image certainly lives up to the hype. This fight could end up being an early contender for "Fight of the Year". As Arturo "Thunder" Gatti is being introduced, it's clear he's the audience favorite, as they explode in their seats. The audience is now chanting "Gatti, Gatti". Both fighters saunter towards the center of the ring. They are both staring at the ground, both avoiding eye contact, at any cost it seems. They finally touch gloves. Get ready, here we go

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Arturo Gatti's corner was busy with the left-eye cut--trying to stop it early, so it does not become a factor in this fight. "Thunder" starts busy with his jab, connecting well. Gatti lands a nice left hook answered by a Manfredy counter left hook. Angel Manfredy punches to the body, Gatti misses to the head. "El Diablo" is deceptively fast and Arturo is having a less than easy time finding his target.

The fighters are beginning to exchange power shots early in the round. They are really rockin'. "Thunder" Gatti lands a quick combination to the head. It seemed to startle Angel as Manfredy is backing away as Gatti comes forward. Manfredy lands a solid right glove, Gatti misses a right hand-again. Angel "El Diablo" Manfredy delivers a rocking right as Gatti comes in, Gatti manages to land a right to the head, then misses a left hook. Now it's Angel Manfredy's turn to miss a left hook.

Arturo Gatti is inching forward, Manfredy counters with a left hook. The cut is open again, some blood in the left eye of Gatti. Manfredy lands a nice right hand, then a nice hard right hook to the body. That was a hard shot! "Thunder" Gatti looks hurt, but this is when he's dangerous. Remember folks, Arturo Gatti's nickname really should be "Pheonix". This kid just comes back, and back and back. As Angel Manfredy's trainer told BOXING.COM, Manfredy wasn't going to push Gatti too hard--meaning that he won't attack at the first sign of "Thunder's" pain.

Crowd favorite Arturo Gatti pushes Manfredy to the corner, and has really come back nicely. They are just loving it. End of round, Gatti is still bleeding.

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Arturo starts the round again with his jab, but Angel is moving very well. Gatti uses his jab again, Angel Manfredy misses and is now really off balance. This could be an opportunity for Gatti's pay back. Angel Manfredy rocks a nice right-left combination that knocks Gatti's head back. Gatti quickly answers with his own left hook. 'El Diablo" misses a body punch, but summons a nice left hook straight from hell. Arturo Gatti taunts, asking for more. The audience is really getting a show tonight.

Manfredy connects with a calculated hard right hand, but Arturo has different plans as he unleashes a hard body combination. The action is just non-stop! Angel Manfredy zaps Gatti with a thunder left hook to the head,(right on the cut) then a perfect combination downstairs. Gatti manages to respond with his solid jab. Gatti then lands a left hook.

The fighters are in very close now. The fight is momentarily stopped by the referee--Angel "El Diablo" Manfredy gets warned for a low blow. Gatti tries to get back into the fight with a jab. BANG! Arturo Gatti is floored hard! A perfect left hook by Angel has knocked Gatti down right flat on stomach! Arturo's hurt...but he's up at the count of 6. He was just rocked!

"El Diablo" Manfredy continues the hellish punishment with a sturdy combination. He's landing rights, left hooks, the whole nine! Gatti is not responding well... Manfredy may be able to take him out, but Gatti is finally fighting back. What action, ladies and gentlemen! Both fighters are exchanging bombs to the delight of the crowd!

Angel Manfredy really has to be careful. We've all seen this before...Gatti is still very, very dangerous. Arturo Gatti is now the aggressor...landing a piercing right on Manfredy. Explosive Gatti is landing to the body and the head now--- a real show of action, as if someone put in a quarter into the jukebox!

The bell can hardly be heard, but it signifies the end of the 3rd round. Arturo "Thunder" Gatti smiles as he goes back to his corner.

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Both fighters get an absolute earful in between rounds, as they both start by exchanging hard to the body. Angel Manfredy slips in a hard right hand that adds to his fight points. Arturo is using his jab, really being the aggressor... lands a hard right hand of his own. "El Diablo" sits back, trying to find his shots as Gatti comes in. The fight has slowed down.

Gatti pin-points a strong punch to the body, then lands a few great lefts and rights to Manfredy's downstairs frame.

Manfredy is feeling the effects of this body attack as he retreats. Gatti's corner must have instructed him to concentrate on the body, as hardly any of Gatti's shots are being delivered anywhere else. Good advice, as it is rocking Angel. Gatti is now landing near-perfect hard punches, and Angel Manfredy may be hurt. He is showing some pain right about now...could be the body shots. "Thunder" Gatti lands a left hook to the chin. The first half of this round has definitely gone to Gatti. Angel Manfredy manages to land a left hook. "El Diablo" is backing away as Gatti comes forward, until Angel lands a nice combination to the head as the blood-stained Gatti comes in. Gatti misses a combination to the head--now, no longer punching exclusively to the body. Gatti connects on Manfredy's head with a left hook. Manfredy comes back with a hard right hand- he's not taking anything lightly at this point in the fight.

Gatti rockets a hard left hooking hammer and is then caught up in an exchange. End of round.

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The cut over Gatti's eye is mostly closed now, not as bad as before. His corner has done a world-class job on the gore.

Gatti comes out again, jabbing, as is Manfredy. Arturo Gatti misses a big left hook, but retains balance. "El Diablo" jabs and connects. Gatti now lands to the body, then lands a big left hook, but Manfredy has a great chin. That one connected bang on!

"Thunder" delivers a strong combination to the midsection, which has proven to be effective in earlier rounds. The fighter's exchange inside. Angel summons a nice body punch and combination to the head, moving Gatti back. Good action in mid 6th round.

Angel Manfredy lands a quick combination that will help him on the judges scorecards. Manfredy lands nicely to the body, and seems to have the edge in this round. Gatti is staying in his shell right now, absorbing almost everything that the young devil puts out. Manfredy lands a nice uppercut! He is clearly busier than Gatti this round. Gatti misses a left hook and gets one on the face for his troubles. Arturo Gatti's cut is bleeding once again, fairly bad. There is a lot of blood, but not enough to get the official's attention. Now Arturo opens up with a left hook, but Manfredy comes right back.

Gatti manages to score a clean left hook, but no seeming effect to Manfredy. Both kids can take it. Gatti smacks Manfredy downstairs to the body...the body again. Angel "El Diablo" Manfredy lands two left hooks to the head, then another one to the body...quick response by Gatti has he fires back to the body. Good action by both fighters as they give each other a sloppy embrace the end of round six.

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In case you were counting, these guys have thrown around 1000 punches already through 6 rounds. LOTS of action tonight, folks.

Arturo Gatti comes out, missing a big left hook to the body. "Thunder" knows that he has to pull out the stops if he is going to get a positive decision at the fight's end. Angel Manfredy inching backwards as revived Gatti comes forward. Arturo fires to the downstairs, Manfredy responds with a counter left hook. Both young fighters are trying to land their jab and get some kind of momentum. Angel lands a clean right, adding to his score. Gatti may be hurt...that was a hard shot. "El Diablo" connects with about 10 unanswered punches, but Gatti finally fires back with a left hook. Manfredy continues with a hellish right hand. It seems that Arturo Gatti just might not be able to see the right glove coming with all the blood in his left eye. It really appears that scrappy Gatti is having trouble finding Manfredy. That eye does not look good at all.

Angel Manfredy scores with an authoritative left hook, but Gatti fights back with his own left to the bald demon head. Blood is really streaming down Gatti's left eye... he misses a left hook. Gatti lands a nice right, but misses a combination. He is looking a bit sloppy. Angel Manfredy lands a left hook to the head, then three straight lefts. Gatti trying to jab here and there, moving forward. Angel is able to avoid most of Gatti's punches to this point. The bell rings signifying the end of round 7.

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The deep cut over Arturo Gatti's left eye is really bad. It's bad. The gash is horrible, about an inch long and looking to be miles deep!

Gatti comes out trying to land some haymakers...he knows that the doctors are keeping a detailed look at the injury and could stop this one. Angel Manfredy lands a merciless right hand. The fighters are in close now...Gatti knows he needs to be in close. Needless to say, he has experienced this before. Angel manages to get some space and scores with his jab. Manfredy lands his jab over and over... Arturo Gatti better make something happen soon, his eye is simply a wreck.

Gatti lands to the body, Manfredy sits back, bidding his time, as if he knows that the referee could call it any minute. Angel "El Diablo" Manfredy lands a left, right combination and Gatti moves back as if hurt. The fighters exchange close with Manfredy landing a hard left hook to the head. Gatti scores with a well-placed right hand, but Angel is really landing his multiple jabs. Gatti seems to have problems seeing right now...yup, Arturo Gatti is getting hit by good punches that he just can't see because of his eye.

The ref is looking closely... the referee is pausing the fight to let the ringside doctor look at the cut. He wants a second opinion. The doctor answers quickly...The fight is stopped!! It's over!

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POSTFIGHT
Arturo Gatti is simply furious! He's been here before and he must just feel cheated. The fighters embrace, but the unbelievable story of Gatti's uncanny comebacks just didn't materialize tonight. Boy, is that cut ugly...Gatti is just so irate.

It was almost as the bell rang at the end of round 8 that the fight was stopped. Gatti is mad and is moving away from his cutman. He doesn't want his cutman to care to the cut, he just wants to be left alone.

KO end of Round 8, the ringside doctor advises the referee to stop the bout, but it was the referee who asked the doctor to look at the cut, it was just that bad...

One judge's card had the fight even at the time of the stoppage, the other two judges had Manfredy ahead by 3 and 2 points, respectively. Angel Manfredy was winning the fight, and Gatti would have had a tough battle to try to recoup all those points. We've seen it before, but it just didn't happen. You could feel the crowd get very nervous at the end of the round, not knowing if Arturo could muster up the now famous "Thunder". It's simple, Arturo Gatti just met a great boxer who wouldn't let his punches in. Angel Manfredy has a great chin, and was able to take everything that Gatti could throw. The kid can box.

During the post-fight interview, Angel "El Diablo" Manfredy says that Gatti did rock him a couple times, but it didn't hurt him. Angel continued to state that he got caught with a body shot that definitely knocked the wind out of him, but says "I'm a true champion". He admits to hurting his hand near the end and fighting a one-handed battle at the end of the 8th round. Tonight's winner adds that he definitely wants to fight the world-famous Prince Naseem Hamed. He manages to put-down the showboat and ask for a bout at the same time. It is clear to everyone that Angel Manfredy has swollen eyes and a swollen forehead, but doesn't look too bad considering the torturous pace of event. Manfredy doesn't want to give Arturo Gatti an immediate rematch, maybe for good reason - it was a tough fight.

Prince Naseem's manager Frank Warren now step up to the interview and says that Hamed vs Manfredy is two fights away. He adds that the Prince will fight Manfredy in the summer, and that NAZ would move up in weight just for that fight alone.

In Gatti's post-fight interview, he says he knew he was in trouble during the first round with the cut. He acknowledges Manfredy's strength, and asks for a rematch. Gatti says he was never hurt and that HE is the true champion. If he wasn't cut, he thinks he would have won the fight, slowing "El Diablo" down in the later rounds. "I want Manfredy next!". Gatti is looking for a rematch once his eye heals.

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