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Big Mouth, Big Talent

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was carried to his potential battleground, albeit amid a chorus of boos, on Saturday night as any king would. His display of athleticism, though, is what proved ring royalty. For weeks, Mayweather (34-0 23KO) described to anyone willing to listen about how he was going to beat opposing junior welterweight Arturo Gatti. The crowd in Gatti's homestate of New Jersey turned deaf ears, until their own heads hung low in defeat of their champion.

Gatti (39-7 30KO) was welcomed by standing ovation, not only within the Boardwalk Hall of Atlantic City, but throughout the boxing communtity. He had earned the nicknames "Thunder" and "The Ultimate Blood and Guts Warrior" as a result of brutal wars with Micky Ward, Ivan Robinson, and Gabriel Ruelas. He brought with him the title of "champion" bestowed on him by the WBC. He left with tearful, swollen eyes.

Mayweather exhibited superior defense, speed, and accuracy from the second round through the sixth. As the rounds wound down, Gatti absorbed more punishment than each prior three-minute outing. The fan favorite fought the absolute wrong fight against the multi-talented, younger man. Gatti, a vicious slugger, decided to try to outjab the boxer in what seemed like only a matter of time until old habits were revisited. These tactics never came to surface, though. The inpenetrable villain landed combination after flurry to rip the title from Gatti's (likely broken) hands after the beaten fighter's corner, including trainer Buddy McGirt, threw in the proverbial towel.

"Pretty Boy" Floyd has expressed interest in a showdown with the United Kingdom's Ricky Hatton. Hatton, "The Hitman," is recognized as the true champion after dismantling Kostya Tszyu. He is also criticized for not boxing outside of his native Manchester. Hopefully, the WingHouse of Daytona Beach will be lucky enough to present such a bout. Mayweather may have frightened opposition and spectators alike away by his dominance.