Gatti vs Ward I: Chapter One In A Great Boxing Rivalry

Gatti vs Ward I: Chapter One In A Great Boxing Rivalry

The final bell rings, the crowd roars, and the two warriors embrace and then raise each other’s hands. This is the part of boxing that typically perplexes non-fans of “The Sweet Science.” How could two athletes who just finished pounding the hell out of each other now demonstrate so much genuine regard, even affection? How can such respect exist between combatants who have just done their utmost to render each other helpless? To understand the a…