Boxing News: Gatti meets Damgaard Saturday Night

Two-time world champion and fan-favorite Arturo Gatti returns to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ Saturday night in a 12 round showdown against undefeated welterweight contender Thomas Damgaard for the vacant IBA welterweight championship. The bout— which will be Gatti’s first at welterweight—will be televised on HBO’s “World Championship Boxing” series beginning at 9:45 pm ET/6:45 pm PT.

Featured on the undercard will be undefeated featherweight sensation Jason Litzau, who will battle Carlos Contreras.

Gatti (39-7, 30 KO’s) is the former IBF jr. lightweight champion and the former WBC super lightweight champion. The 33-year-old Jersey City, NJ resident by way of Montreal, Canada is returning to the ring for the first time since surrendering his WBC title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. on June 25, 2005 (TKO 6). The Gatti-Mayweather bout was the highest-grossing non-heavyweight bout in Atlantic City, NJ history. In 2002 – 2003, Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward waged a thrilling trilogy that was recently selected by ESPN.com fans as the second-greatest boxing trilogy in history, behind only Ali-Frazier.

Damgaard (37-0, 27 KO’s) has not lost a bout since turning pro in February 1998. The 34-year-old Morkov, Denmark southpaw is ranked #5 by The Ring magazine. On Nov 3, 2000, Damgaard captured the EBU welterweight title and the WBA International welterweight title by decisioning Alessandro Duran (W 12). He successfully defended both titles three times. Damgaard will be fighting in the U.S. for the first time when he visits Boardwalk Hall to challenge Gatti.

Jason Litzau (16-0, 14 KO’s), from St. Paul, MN, has twice been featured on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” series and is ranked #7 by the NABF and #5 USBA. Litzau’s July 15 bout against John Nolasco was selected by ESPN.com as one of 12 “Unforgettable Bouts” from 2005.

Carlos Contreras (20-11-3, 13 KO’s) The 29-year-old Ciudad Juarez, Mexico native has gone the distance with world champions Johnny Tapia and Lehlo Ledwaba, and with world title challengers Art Simonyan and Adan Vargas.

Main Events will promote the evening of boxing, in association with Caesars Atlantic City and International Entertainment APS.

Tickets, priced at $300, $200, $150, $100, and $50, are available at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420, or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.