Financial awards reflected the importance of the event. Baldomir received an estimated $1.4 million, while Gatti received $1 million. Baldomir passed up some more lucrative opportunities because this fight ensured his biggest payday up to that point.
Boardwalk Hall was packed with 12,763 fans, setting an Atlantic City attendance record for a non-heavyweight boxing match. The building was the same as Gatti's a decade ago, and the club's crowd was expecting another amazing chapter from their hometown favourite.
From the opening bell, Baldomir made it clear that he had no intention of letting that script play out.
Although both men are well above the welterweight limit, Baldomir looked more physical when the punches landed. Gatti repeatedly backed off the ropes with heavy right hands before following up with hooks to the head and body. Gatti responded with combinations, but Baldomir took them without changing his technique.
Referee Wayne Hedgepeth allowed the action to progress whenever possible, only stepping in when the opponents were tied up. His administration suited Baldomir, who preferred close physical combat.
Gatti remains competitive in the middle rounds despite swelling under his right eye. The cuts on his mouth were also visible as the punishment increased. All three judges favored Baldomir after eight rounds. Tom Kaczmarek scored 78-74, John Stewart had 77-75, and Hubert Minn saw 79-73. HBO's unofficial scorer Harold Lederman also had Baldomir well ahead with a score of 78-74.
Any remaining doubts disappeared by nine.
Baldomir has Gatti on the ropes and lands a solid attack with both hands. A left hook dropped Gatti the first time he was hit. He beat the count, but Baldomir attacked again, knocking him back before another combination sent him crashing to the canvas a second time. Hedgepeth ended the fight at 2:50 of the round, awarding Baldomir the knockout victory.
CompuBox statistics showed the difference. Baldomir finished with a 267-161 edge in total punches. He also connected on 226 power shots compared to Gatti's 116. During the ninth round of the singles finals, Baldomir made 40 of his 80 power-hitting attempts.
The victory removed any lingering doubts about Baldomir's reign as champions. He had defeated Judah in one of the biggest surprises of the year before entering Gatti's home arena and controlling the fight from start to finish. The performance earned him an even bigger opportunity against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Gatti's defeat represents the final chapter of Atlantic City's high profile. In an interview with Larry Merchant after the fight, he admitted that he wasn't sure if he would fight again, saying, “I had a great time doing it.”
He returned again in 2007 before retiring after losing to Alfonso Gomez. Baldomir's victory is still the night Atlantic City's favorite has been replaced by a bigger, stronger welterweight who has refused to be overwhelmed by the moment.
