Arturo Gatti vs. Wilson Rodriguez (Fight of the Year '96) - Boxing

Gatti returned to the "Mecca of Boxing" on March 23, 1996, to defend his title for the first time ...Gatti returned to the "Mecca of Boxing" on March 23, 1996, to defend his title for the first time against Wilson Rodriguez. It's doubtful that any of the nearly 5,000 spectators expected to witness one of the greatest fights ever; yet, that is exactly what they saw. The fight began precariously for Gatti as Rodriguez's stiff left jab and stinging right cross swelled Gatti's eyes immediately in round one. Round two was even worse for the champ as he was knocked to the canvas.

While cutman Joe Souza miraculously kept Gatti's eyes open, Gatti continued his game plan of punishing Rodriguez's body. With each ferocious body punch Rodriguez's hands lowered further to protect his midsection. In the fifth-round, Gatti drilled the Spaniard with a left hook that broke a rib and sent the challenger to the canvas. In the sixth-round, Rodriguez desperately attempted to protect his injured rib and by doing so left his chin open to the left hook that ended one of the greatest fights, and comebacks, in boxing history. So impressive was Gatti's performance that the bout was selected as 1996's "Fight of the Year."

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