32 Degrees To Honor Arturo
Friday, September 11th, 2009
Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, the popular boxer and former two-time world champion who died tragically on July 11, was one of Atlantic City’s “adopted sons.” He was sort of a man of the world — born in Italy, raised in Canada, lived and trained in northern New Jersey, and died in a Brazilian hotel room — but the city that embraced him more than any other was here, and there are essentially two main reasons.
Gatti was well liked by the masses because he was friendly and approachable outside the ring, and in the ring he always gave valiant efforts, whether pitted against opponents he outclassed (like previously unbeaten Leonard Dorin), who outclassed him (Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather) or against whom he was evenly matched, like Tracy Harris Patterson and Mickey Ward. It was a thrilling trilogy against Ward that cemented Gatti’s legacy in A.C., and helped him sell out Boardwalk Hall nine straight times.
Next Saturday, Sept. 19, Bally’s Atlantic City will present a “Night of Thunder” tribute to Gatti prior to the main event of a boxing card headlined by unbeaten bantamweight Teon Kennedy of Philadelphia (13-0, 5 knockouts) and Lante Addy of Ghana, the current West African Bantamweight champion. Afterward, 32 Degrees Luxe Lounge in The Quarter at Tropicana will host a “Night of Thunder” after-party as a tribute to his life. Gatti was a frequent guest at 32 Degrees, and even had his own VIP bottle-service storage locker.
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