Angel Manfredy’s Gatti Upset
On January 17, 1998, Angel Manfredy defeated Arturo Gatti by eighth-round technical knockout in a non-title bout in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Angel Manfredy had already learned how to recover from a setback before the boxing world learned his name. After losing two of his first five professional bouts, the Indiana fighter put together a 23-fight winning streak and climbed into the crowded junior-lightweight picture. His breakthrough came in Atlantic City against Arturo Gatti, a favorite with a championship reputation and a bruising style.
The night Manfredy stopped Gatti
On January 17, 1998, Manfredy met Gatti in a scheduled ten-round bout that was not for Gatti’s IBF title. Manfredy dropped him in the third round and kept pressing, even as his right hand troubled him. By the eighth, Gatti’s face was badly cut and the referee stopped the fight. The upset made Manfredy a name beyond the Midwest and showed he could take a fight to an established star.
Four title shots, one signature win
That victory brought a far bigger test: Floyd Mayweather Jr. stopped Manfredy in the second round later that year while defending the WBC super-featherweight title. Manfredy regrouped, outpointing Ivan Robinson in 1999 (career fight record), but his next championship chance against Stevie Johnston ended in a unanimous-decision loss. He later challenged Diego Corrales and Paul Spadafora for world titles, falling short in both fights. The Gatti win remained his clearest night in the spotlight, but it was not a title win.
Manfredy fought on through 2004 and finished with 43 wins, eight defeats and one draw. His career was a mix of spectacular wins and difficult assignments against future Hall of Famers and champions. That combination made “El Diablo” a familiar name in late-1990s boxing, even without the major belt that his four title challenges pursued. Read more in our boxing archive.
Defining Fights
Manfredy’s stoppage of Arturo Gatti made him a recognizable contender, but his subsequent championship opportunities presented very different challenges. Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s speed and precision produced an early stoppage, illustrating the gap between defeating an established name and solving an elite technician. Manfredy’s persistence through multiple high-level bouts remains central to his boxing record.
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Article Tags
Angel Manfredy, Boxing, Boxing History, Championship Fights
