Brick City Boxing

By Danny Serratelli (December 2, 2004)

I first met brothers Joe and Arturo Gatti back in 1992, while training at Lou Costello's gym in Patterson New Jersey. It was a small gym, pretty old and dirty looking, but not the worst place I've seen, plus the price was right. What I know now that I didn't really know then was that the small gym was packed with championship caliber talent. By late 1993 I would be involved in a car accident that would almost cost me my left eye, and by the time I was healed, the gym was no longer in the same location (I think the roof caved in). However, I have a lot of memories from my time in that gym that I will never forget.

The head trainer at Costello's at that time was Diego Rosario. He trained a lot of the guys in the gym and later trained former heavyweight titleholder Bruce Seldon. Oscar Suarez was a young trainer at the time helping out as well. We all know he went on to train former champ Prince Naseem Hamed, and currently trains former world champion Acelino Freitas. There were several others who helped out in the small gym including Frankie Toledo Sr. His boys were already good fighters when I joined Costello’s, Frankie as a professional and David as a young amateur. Frankie has since held the IBF Featherweight title, and David went on to have a successful professional career as well.

There were several fighters I remember from the small gym during the same time period that would eventually go on to have successful professional careers. Off the top of my head I can remember Scott DePompe, Freddy Curiel, and Johnny Molnar from Costello's. The last two I can think of are guys who were from Canada who had been training at Costello's for a little while at that point. The prospect in the gym at the time was "Lightening" Joe Gatti. Around the time I joined Costello's, Joe was something like 20-2, 16 KO's, and people were talking about a title shot in the near future. Joe's younger brother Arturo "Thunder" Gatti was also a regular in the gym. At the time he only had a few professional fights. I can remember when he picked up his first loss in his 7th fight a decision in Philadelphia at the Blue Horizon. At that stage of his career, it did not appear that anyone had any idea of what the future would hold for Arturo. I remember Arturo from the gym, at the time I was about 17 and he was around 21, which seemed like a more substantial age difference than it does now. He was always a nice guy, looking to help the younger guys like me any time.

Joe got his title shot soon after but, unfortunately for him it was against a pound for pound contender in champion Terry Norris, and Joe was stopped in round 1. About a year later, after a bunch of early round knockouts, Arturo would get a chance to fight for the USBA belt against Pete Taliafero. I remember going to the fight with friends in New Jersey, except unlike the other fights I had been at when I was always confident in the result, this time I was a little anxious. Taliafero had beaten former world champion Bernard Taylor only four months prior. I think everyone there for Arturo was a little nervous at the time because the fight on paper, represented a big step up in class. However, any anxious feelings were quickly put to rest when Arturo stopped Taliafero by TKO in the 1st.

By this time I had started training at Gleason's in Brooklyn, where Arturo and Joe also trained at the time. Although they usually came earlier than I did, I'd occasionally run into Arturo's new trainer, Hector Roca. Why I remember this, is because around that time, in the summer of 1994, I clearly remember watching Arturo making his 1st defense of his USBA title with a 10th round TKO over Richard Salazar. The memory of watching that fight on television is more clear to me than if I had made the trip to Philly because I watched the day after I broke my nose sparring in Gleason's. Despite the annoying fact that my nose had swelled up and still dripping blood the next day, I was glad to see Arturo stop Salazar in the 10th, especially since it was his first trip back to Philly since the loss.

I was at his next fight back in New Jersey against former world champ Jose Sanabria. That fight was a tough one for Arturo, but a good learning experience. It was probably the last time he fought in New Jersey where the crowd was split, as I remember there were a lot of Sanabria supporters. It is funny that he was the co-feature and the main event was Arturo's present trainer James Buddy McGirt. McGirt captured an easy unanimous decision over veteran Kevin Pompey that night, while Arturo had a tough fight that required him to dig deep to take the decision over Sanabria.

Within a year of the Sanabria fight, Arturo would fight 5 more times, winning all by KO, four of them in round number one. At the time, he was hoping for a major title shot. Talk was of a potential title fight with the new IBF Super Featherweight champ, Lou Duva’s lightening quick southpaw Eddie Hobson. However, Tracy Harris Paterson got the shot at Hobson and exposed his chin in devastating fashion, taking his title. I remember telling Arturo it was too bad he didn’t get to Hobson first after seeing Hobson fold to Patterson so easily, and was a little surprised when Arturo calmly said that it was fine and he was sure he’d do the same to Tracy Patterson.

Following the Patterson fight Gatti stayed active knocking out Barrington Francis in the 5th round just four days later, and Carlos Vergara in the first round in October of 1995 to set up the title fight between Patterson and Gatti in December of 1995. Patterson had picked up another knockout victory since the Hobson fight as well. The fight would be part of the “Return to the Mecca” card at boxing's return to Madison Square Garden. Their fight was the co feature with the main event featuring Oscar de la Hoya against none other than Jesse James Leija. Gatti dropped Patterson early that night, and gutted out the decision despite a late rush by Patterson. Leija was stopped by De la Hoya , who seemed indestructible at lightweight in round number two.

Back in 1995, Leija was already a veteran of 33 fights and had held a victory over the legendary Azumah Nelson. Here we are over 9 years later, and it appears that despite all the wars, cuts, and several losses, both Gatti and Leija may still be on or near the top of their games. This will be a great fight no matter what happens.

By Danny Serratelli

The pride of Newark New Jersey, super-middleweight Jerson Ravelo, (14-1, 9 KO’s) made his return to the ring after suffering his first defeat as a professional in April. In Ravelo’s first fight back he did not look to ease back and take an easy opponent. After going to fight in upset artist David Lopez’s back yard in his last fight, a fight that was scheduled for 10, but ended when the referee stopped it at the end of the 9th round, he went into Muhammad Said’s (16-1, 10 KO’s) back yard in Las Vegas for his return to the ring.

Back in April, Ravelo had several factors working against him, and did not appear to be himself or fight his fight for most of the night against Lopez. After several injuries, and several trainers, it appeared that Jerson was back last night. He abandoned the unfamiliar style he employed in the Lopez fight and returned to his familiar style of boxer-puncher, and as a result he easily controlled the action with a smooth jab, and powerful right hand. Said to his credit, came to fight. He was at a reach disadvantage and apparently outgunned, but tried to get inside and fight. Ravelo, who likes to mix it up, showed his experience, ring intelligence and exceptional speed and did what he wanted to do. While Said landed a few decent right hands, they were few and far between. Ravelo controlled the action for the full 10 rounds, and landed the right hand with power several times in the fight.

Ravelo had no problem going 10 rounds for the first time and appeared to win just about every round. Despite dominating most of the rounds, the Las Vegas judges made everyone cringe again when a majority decision was announced, 98-92 and 97-93 for Ravelo with the third judge calling it even at 95-95.

Obviously, Ravelo, who was the first 2000 Olympian to reach 10 victories, is eager to get back in the mix of things with fellow 2000 Olympians, Jeff Lacy and Jermain Taylor. Although Ravelo only has15 pro fights, he had 110 amateur fights, and beat Jeff Lacy as an amateur.

By Danny Serratelli (originally published 3/26/04 in vinnypaz.com)

"I hope it's a bloodbath. To go out that way, I have no problem...I will fight balls to the walls Saturday night and I will win."

On Saturday night, March 27, 2004, former five-time world champion Vinny Paz (A.K.A. Vinny Pazienza) caps off a professional career that started 21 years ago. Paz is matched in a 10-round super middleweight bout against two-time world title challenger Tocker "TNT" Pudwill (39-5, 14 KOs), headlining "History in the Making" airing live on CN8, The Comcast Network from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Paz was paid $24 dollars for his first fight in 1983, one million dollars for a shot at Roy Jones' IBF super-middleweight title in 1995 and $90,000 for his last title shot and most recent fight, for the WBC super-middleweight belt against Eric Lucas in 2002. There have been many ups and downs along the way, but that has been part of why people keep coming back for more. I will be ringside to watch the "Pazmanian Devil", 49-10, 39 KO's, go for his 50th win against competent opponent Tocker Pudwill.

Vinny has had a long and successful career, but he has also had many people doubting him all along. He will be the first one to tell you, "There are a million guys out there who probably have more talent than I do, but they don't have my spirit or will."..."I'm probably not a Hall of Fame fighter, but I know what I am. I'm a warrior."

I concur in part with Vinny. Not many people will doubt that he's a true warrior, but contrary to what many so called experts may say, I believe he should be inducted into Boxing's Hall of Fame upon his retirement regardless of what happens on Saturday night.

A natural lightweight who is barely 5'7' on a good hair day, Vinny has been around and fought at weights from 135 up to 168. For a guy who has been called a "glorified club fighter" for much of his career he has had the staying power, determination, and durability to compete on a high level in the sport for over 20 years. How many of today's light-weight champs do you think will still be around fighting for world titles as super-middleweights in 15-20 years? I'll tell you how many...none!

Paz has won two legitimate word titles, the IBF's 135-pound title from Greg Haugen in 1987, and the WBA's 154-pound title from Gilbert Dele in 1991. In addition to the two major titles, Vinny has picked up three other titles, the WBU's, IBC's and IBO's 168-pound belts in fights with the previously undefeated Dana Rosenblatt, Roberto Duran and Dan Sherry.

He has also fought Roger Mayweather, Loreto Garza , Hector Camacho, Sr., Eric Lucas and Roy Jones, Jr. for world titles. In each of those losing efforts Paz always gave it 110%, and if he had a weakness it was opponents using his aggression and desire to fight and please the crowd to their advantage.

He has always been one of the few fighters in the world who is a huge draw regardless of his current ranking or even recent performances. In a time when boxing is said by many to be on life support, Vinny at age 41, after not fighting in 2 years, can still sell out in the Northeast with ease. In fact, for his fight on Saturday he sold out the Fox Theater at the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut quicker than two men who are probably the best lightweights in the world right now, and were recently fighting a rematch of a bout that was a fight of the year candidate, Diego Corrales and Joel Casamayor. The reason? The fans know what they will get every time out.

Vinny will tell you, "I like to make people happy, and I fight better when I bleed...When you fight the way I do, you don't do it for the money." People genuinely believe him, a rarity in boxing, and that is why they come to see him fight.

After a good career, what the "Pazmanian Devil" may be best known for, was training in his halo. Soon after winning his second major world title from Dele in October of 1991, he was involved in a serious car accident. He had to have a metal device called a halo drilled into his head to stabilize the broken vertebrae in his neck. After being told by doctors he would never fight again, he was in the hospital for nearly three months.

Vinny did not believe what he was told and started finding any way he could to train and test it out as soon as he possibly could. He told doctors and anyone else who tried to talk some sense into him that they didn't not what kind of man he was, and that he would be back. True to form, he was back in the ring 13 months later, winning a unanimous decision over Luis Santana. In fact the fight with Pudwell will be Pazienza's 24th fight since the broken neck.

When asked about Saturday night's fight and going after his 50th win Vinny said, "I'm ready; I'm not just going out for my going away fight, its going to be a fight like all the rest during my career- blood, sweat, and tears.... I hope it's a bloodbath. To go out that way, I have no problem... I will fight balls to the walls Saturday night and I will win."