Thunder Take a Bow

Dear Arturo,

Look, we're not going to tell you how to live your life. You are Arturo fucking Gatti, the ring warrior of our era. You are more No Mas than we at No Mas can ever hope to be and we hail you with a mighty "we're not worthy."

We saw the beating you took from Floyd, and like all of your fans, we wince at the thought of it. And though the writing has been on the wall for a while, we know you couldn't go out like that, not a true fighter like yourself. We're glad you came back to finish it your way.

But man, the recent death of Mike Quarry, and the memory of the death of one of your ancestral dopplegangers, Jerry Quarry - both dead from the effects of severe pugilistic dementia... Arturo, we fear for your safety. You've taken a lot of shots. You got a family that you love. You're a special guy and everybody loves you.

So here's what we hope happens. We hope you thrill the Boardwalk crowd one more time tonight, knock Baldomir out in yet another Gatti classic for the ages, strap on the belt, bask in all the love, cry a little when Larry Merchant interviews you.

And then tomorrow we hope you retire. On top, where you belong.

Godspeed,

No Mas