How Good Was The Gatti-Ward Trilogy?

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 19 Aug 2007, 08:51

The first fight was a very good one don't get me wrong, it has entered a sort of folklore as the standard bearer for great fights of recent years. But does the trilogy as a whole deserve mythical status?

I ask only after watching the two Marquez-Vazquez bouts and the skill, ferocity and courage displayed was amazing. Only for the bouts to be compared to.... Gatti-Ward. Dare i say what we are witnessing is better. Has my memory failed me or were the 2nd fights lacking a little as Gatti worked out Ward's style and took over the series?

The first Barrera-Morales fight is probably my favourite bout, the 2nd was not as good but that was no surprise and the 3rd held a certain intrigue all the way through. Castillo-Corrales I was manic, the back from the brink return from Diego was the stuff of movies.

But please help me to rate Gatti-Ward I and the series as a whole. True classics? The yardstick of great contests? Or not quite as good as some other fights that are oft overlooked?

lvlarc · Post by **lvlarc** » 19 Aug 2007, 11:30

Marquez/Vazquez III looks certain to be another barnburner. Reckon it will top Gatti-Ward and go down as possibly the best trilogy of all time, beating Ali-Frazier.

Gatti-Ward trilogy was great and I agree that 2 and 3 didn't match the first fight which is perhaps one of the reasons why I prefer Marquez-Vazquez as somehow the rematch was even more entertaining than the original. Really looking forward to the rubber match!

Gatti-Ward 1 9/10
Gatti-Ward trilogy 8/10

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 19 Aug 2007, 12:30

Gatti v Ward 3 was not a memorable fight, Gatti just used the advantages he always had, to full affect. The knockdown had little bearing on proceedings.

Round 3 of the 2nd fight is arguably one of the best of the lot.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 19 Aug 2007, 13:00

The Gatti v Ward trilogy is good, obviously the first fight was the best when Gatti slugged it out with Ward.

But Vazquez v Marquez fights are better for me. Let's not forget the level these guys are fighting at, these two are the best in their division while Gatti had this now famous trilogy with a guy who was a fringe contender/gatekeeper at best.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 19 Aug 2007, 15:35

The trilogy is a bit overrated IMO. The first fight was amazing, the second and third were good, but not that good.

I can imagine, in years to come, people will hear how good the Gatti-Ward trilogy was, watch the first fight, then feel let down by the sequels.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 20 Aug 2007, 04:37

Kevo wrote:The trilogy is a bit overrated IMO. The first fight was amazing, the second and third were good, but not that good.

I can imagine, in years to come, people will hear how good the Gatti-Ward trilogy was, watch the first fight, then feel let down by the sequels.

Saved me a longer post - totally agree.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 20 Aug 2007, 05:59

Kilburn wrote:Gatti v Ward 3 was not a memorable fight, Gatti just used the advantages he always had, to full affect. The knockdown had little bearing on proceedings.

Round 3 of the 2nd fight is arguably one of the best of the lot.

Yes, despite the knockdown, Gatti utterly dominated Ward.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 20 Aug 2007, 06:59

Trilogies are hard to rate against each other, Ali v Frazier had a series, but the 2nd fight wasn't that good.
Barrera v Morales was another very good trilogy, but the 2nd fight was a bit of an average fight.
Leonard v Duran , had a great 1st fight, an unexpected ending in the 2nd, but a very average 3rd.
Ali v Norton trilogy, all 3 fights were decided on points and were all very close.

But my favourite Trilogy is the Bowe v Holyfield series, all brutal fights and great to watch. (plus the Fan Man falling in)

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 20 Aug 2007, 07:19

How about the shittest trilogies?

Nadeem Siddique-Jason Nesbitt? Nadeem Siddique-Daniel Thorpe?

8)

J · Post by J » 20 Aug 2007, 07:31

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:How about the shittest trilogies?

Nadeem Siddique-Jason Nesbitt? Nadeem Siddique-Daniel Thorpe?

8)

sprott williams?

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 20 Aug 2007, 08:31

I think Gatti and Ward are getting a little underrated. I don't think either were the skilless journeymen they are no made out to be.

I definetely rate the Gatti-Ward fights over Marquez-Vasquez. BUT I rate Morales-MAB fights a level above Gatti-Ward.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 20 Aug 2007, 11:44

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:I definetely rate the Gatti-Ward fights over Marquez-Vasquez.

Hmm, have you actually watched either of the Marquez-Vasquez fights? Either fight is as good as the first Gatti-Ward, and surpasses the second and third fights.

Vasquez and Marquez are both at the top of their game, world champions and top 20 p4p fighters, Gatti was coming back from his brutal loss at the hands of DLH, and Ward, to be fair, was something of a gatekeeper in the light welter division.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 22 Aug 2007, 12:00

Gard vs Ward 1 was a great fight, not as good as Ward vs Burton... but better (IMO) than the Vasquez vs Marquez fights. However, the decision was wrong IMO.

Gatti vs Ward 2 wasn't a great fight, Gatti just kept disciplined and did what he should have done in fight one (control from the on set)... Tremendous bravery from Ward.

Gatti vs Ward 3 was a very good fight, better than the 2nd fight and in some ways better than the first. I think the outcome of fight 2 meant that the atmosphere for this one held it back a little. Gatti would have beaten Ward nine times out of 10, and Ward at already had the 1 time (at least officially). However, Gatti fighting one handed made it interesting in the latter stages.

Khaosai-Galaxy · Post by **Khaosai-Galaxy** » 23 Aug 2007, 11:45

Bowe - Holy 3, and Evander is getting a pasting and not throwing back Lampley to Foreman "George, you're not saying anything"

Foreman "Evander Holyfeild is a sick man Jim, the ref has gotta stop this fight, he has a heart conditio.."

*whollop*

Lampley (Interrupting) "AND DOWN GO'S BOWE!!!!"

incredible moment

Khaosai-Galaxy · Post by **Khaosai-Galaxy** » 23 Aug 2007, 12:01

Oh god, i realized i just posted about boxing

DELETE, DELETE!!!!!!!

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 23 Aug 2007, 12:18

I prefer an elite level war myself. No, I don't mean the tame DLH-Mayweather. I mean Marquez-Vazquez 1 and 2, Barrera-Morales 1 and 3, Marquez-Pacquiao, JM Marquez-Barrera, Barrera-McKinney.

Khaosai-Galaxy · Post by **Khaosai-Galaxy** » 23 Aug 2007, 12:31

Autobarn wrote:I prefer an elite level war myself. No, I don't mean the tame DLH-Mayweather. I mean Marquez-Vazquez 1 and 2, Barrera-Morales 1 and 3, Marquez-Pacquiao, JM Marquez-Barrera, Barrera-McKinney.

yeah? well bully for you

why does every tosser on every internet forum about every single subject in the world want to appear to be some sort of "purest" or "real" fan

harrygreb · Post by **harrygreb** » 23 Aug 2007, 18:02

youre a charmer you, aint ya

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 23 Aug 2007, 18:20

Khaosai-Galaxy wrote:
Autobarn wrote:I prefer an elite level war myself. No, I don't mean the tame DLH-Mayweather. I mean Marquez-Vazquez 1 and 2, Barrera-Morales 1 and 3, Marquez-Pacquiao, JM Marquez-Barrera, Barrera-McKinney.
yeah? well bully for you

why does every tosser on every internet forum about every single subject in the world want to appear to be some sort of "purest" or "real" fan

Appearances have nothing to do with it. I like to see skilled guys fighting and some of those fihgters above are among the best OFFENSIVE fighters around.

Only one of the Ward-Gattii fights even qualifies as a great fight. Why would I want to watch all 3 over and over?

I enjoy domestic wars, for what it's worth, and great fights that are based in Britain like the recent Thompson-Vuma.

You make it sound like I listed Taylor-Hopkins 1, Taylor Hopkins 2, Hopkins-Wright, Mayweather-Baldomir and throw in Lewis-Holyfield 1 and Lewis-Tua for good measure!