Mayweather Viciously Destroys Gatti

We got in our seats just as the 3rd round of the Harris-Maussa fight was coming to a close. I became overwhelmingly bored straight away and when my dad wasn't introducing me to people he knew, I occupied myself with celebrity watching and tasty food. But eventually the monotony was broken when my dad asked me if I wanted a beer. I declined because, well, drinking with a parent just feels unnatural. But he ordered one for me anyway and for 5 minutes or so, I sat there with it in my hand like a total goon... At least, until he gave me one of those "What are you waiting for?" looks. I flashed back to the countless drinking races I've been in, cracked my neck, and foolishly demonstrated what I've been doing the past few years. My record at school still stands at 12 ounces in 3.18 seconds, unspilled. I didn't touch it tonight but I made the mistake of licking my lips and smiling in triumph like I had. It wasn't until a nearby man congratulated me on my skill ["That was like you opened up your throat!"] that I stole a glance at my dad and saw his mouth hanging open. Trouble was brewin. Luckily, Maussa, a fighter who might best be described as an awkward slugger, then landed an absolutely brutal left hook, putting "Vicious" Vivian on his arse and diverting my father's attention. The second the fight was over, I ran away to escape the inevitable questioning of my "skill" and didn't return for 20 minutes.

When I got back to my seat, Boardwalk Hall had become electric. The entire crowd was pro-Gatti; the chants of his name grew louder by the minute and if Mayweather had fans besides Allen Iverson, they weren't making their presence known. The fight got started smoothly enough and through the 1st round, I truly believed that Gatti could pull out a victory. I knew he could keep up with Mayweather at the very least, and if he could lure Pretty Boy into a brawl, he could manage a knockout. But this fight proved as lopsided as Mayweather was impressive.

Mayweather lit Gatti up with every combination from every possible angle and danced out of danger, so quickly, so easily, that comparing him to Sugar Ray Leonard in that regard would understate his performance. Mayweather was too slick, too fast, and, surprisingly, too powerful. To make matters worse, he put together a fight of tactical brilliance that helped him outslug one of boxing's best sluggers. Whether on offense or defense (which was rare), Mayweather's freakish quickness and ferocity left the crowd in stunned silence for 6 rounds. But then Gatti, eyes nearly swollen shut, didn't answer the bell for the 7th round and it all came to an end - a merciful end.

Soon after leaving Boardwalk, I tried to make a post to recount what I'd just witnessed, but nothing came to mind other than "goddamn." And now, hours later, all that can really be said is that in the end, there was no thunder. The only thing Gatti ever had on his side was the crowd, as his will was no match for Pretty Boy's skill.

This is the most devastating, non-heavyweight title fight that I have ever seen. It was an absolute slaughter. Wright-Trinidad and Hopkins-de la Hoya were truly great matches where the unappreciated fighter toppled the heralded champion but neither Wright nor Hopkins can boast this level of frightful mastery over their opponents. I went into Boardwalk knowing that Mayweather was a good fighter, but I left assured that he is the next great one.

Floyd Mayweather put on a dazzling clinic of epic proportions and beat the most popular boxer of this era into abject submission... And it was a breathtaking performance to watch.