Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Gatti-Dorin holds great potential for entertaining clash

Saturday matchup begins run of strong fights

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

There is no clear front-runner for the fight of the year, but that could change in the next three weeks. Beginning Saturday, there are fights each weekend that hold the promise of being that type of bout.

Arturo Gatti will defend his super lightweight title against former lightweight champion Leonard Dorin on Saturday in Atlantic City. Erik Morales and Carlos Hernandez will hook up July 31 at the MGM Grand in a super featherweight unification. Then on Aug. 7, lightweights Diego Corrales of Las Vegas and Acelino Freitas will tangle in Mashantucket, Conn.

Dorin is a largely unknown who has engaged in highly entertaining fights with former lightweight champions Raul Balbi and Paul Spadafora.

"We're talking about two guys who have never made a bad fight," Dorin promoter Lou DiBella said. "Dorin is known for throwing more punches per round than any other fighter, and (Gatti) is not happy if he is not in a war. (Dorin) knows no other way than to come forward and throw punches."

Many are comparing the matchup to Gatti's sensational trilogy with Micky Ward, two of which were named Fight of the Year by The Ring magazine in 2002 and 2003.

Gatti (37-6, 28 knockouts) dismisses the comparison. He said Dorin, whose only blemish on a 22-0-1 record is a disputed draw with Spadafora, isn't in Ward's league.

"The Micky Ward fights were tough because he had a good chin and he punches hard," Gatti said. "I'm fighting a totally different guy here. What Dorin brings to the table is pressure. But remember one thing: I'm in front of him, and I punch very hard.

"He might think twice about coming in (after I hit him) a couple of times. I definitely think I have a power edge, power and speed."

• PRETTY BOY NEXT? -- If Gatti retains his title Saturday as expected, he said he is open to fighting Las Vegan Floyd Mayweather Jr. this year. Mayweather, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, has been campaigning for the bout for more than a year.

After his May win over DeMarcus Corley, Mayweather said he is tired of chasing Gatti. But Gatti scoffs at the idea he has ducked Mayweather.

"I definitely want to fight him, but let me get through this," Gatti said. "If all goes well and (there are) no problems, let's do it. To call (me) a chicken is pretty crazy. He definitely needs his chin to be tested."

• SPLIT UP -- Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe laughed nervously and said, "That's a good question," when asked which company is promoting Mayweather.

Mayweather has had a turbulent run with Top Rank, which has promoted him since the start of his career in 1996. While Mayweather contends he is a promotional free agent, Top Rank insists it has the right of first refusal to promote Mayweather's next fight.

• TAPIA LICENSE -- Top Rank plans to use former multi-division champion Johnny Tapia in a bout this year, though Tapia is not in fighting shape.

Nevada Athletic Commission chairman John Bailey is seeking Tapia's medical and psychiatric records since January 2001, as well as all police records involving Tapia since then. The commission notified Tapia it would require him to undergo medical tests to prove his fitness to fight.

Tapia, 37, attempted suicide Jan. 11, 2003, and was near death for several days at University Medical Center. He has fought twice since, both in his native New Mexico.

"Once he submits all of his information, we'll have our medical advisory board review it," Bailey said. "If the board clears him medically, the commission would take that recommendation and review and consider it. It would be a positive step. I'm not sure he'd get that, but we will carefully consider all of the evidence he presents us.

"The bottom line is if anyone -- not just Johnny Tapia -- seeks a license to fight here in Nevada, they have to prove they are mentally and psychologically fit to fight."

• LIGHTS OUT -- Heavyweight James Toney, who ruptured his left Achilles tendon in January while training for a bout with Jameel McCline, is back in the gym.

Promoter Dan Goossen said he hopes to have Toney fight twice this year, with "a stay-busy type of fight" in September and the other against a top contender.

One potential opponent for Toney could be former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, a Las Vegan who has been fighting a series of low-level opponents in his native Baltimore. Ellerbe, who works with Rahman, said Rahman "would love a fight with James Toney. Rock would absolutely like that fight."