Foreword, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini
Acknowledgments
Prologue
PART I: COLLISION COURSE
Chapter 1: “I Always Wondered What It Would Be Like to Fight My
Twin”
Chapter 2: Micky
Chapter 3: Arturo
Chapter 4: Brother’s Keeper
Chapter 5: Roller Coaster
Chapter 6: Blood Is Not Always Thicker
Chapter 7: Crossroads
Chapter 8: Rebirth
Chapter 9: “It’s Going to Be a Great Fight”
PART II: INTIMATE WARFARE
Chapter 10: Beautiful, Ugly, and Dangerous
Chapter 11: “Let’s Do It Again”
Chapter 12: Blood and Guts
PART III: BLOOD BROTHERS
Chapter 13: Friends
Chapter 14: Reunion
Chapter 15: An Enduring Mystery
Epilogue
Afterword: Arturo Gatti and the Hall of Fame
Appendix A: Memories of Gatti, Ward, and the Trilogy
Appendix B: Boxing Records
Notes
Index
About the Authors
Dennis Taylor is a professional journalist of more than 40 years.
He is the editor/publisher of www.ringsideboxingshow.com and host
of The Ringside Boxing Show, a worldwide Internet radio program. He
has also written for www.boxing.com and www.ringtv.com. Taylor is
the author of A Puncher's Chance: Amazing Tales from the Ringside
Boxing Show, a nonfiction boxing book, and The Miracle Myth, a
novel.
John J. Raspanti is Chief Lead Writer for both www.maxboxing.com
and www.doghouseboxing.com. A well-known boxing writer, Raspanti
has also contributed to The Ring online (www.ringtv.com).
Boxing writers Taylor and Raspanti track the careers of Arturo
'Thunder' Gatti and 'Irish' Mickey Ward, whose three-fight saga
brought them pugilistic glory and million-dollar paydays at
terrible physical and psychic cost. Gatti’s natural ability and
movie-star good looks earned him titles that his recklessness, in
and out of the ring, quickly overshadowed. Ward, less talented, won
acclaim for a relentless attacking style that made him a crowd
favorite. Both men’s careers were in decline when their first
encounter riveted the fight world. Only six years after their final
battle, Gatti was found dead in a Brazilian motel room, apparently
a suicide. Ward, on the other hand, became a national celebrity
with the film The Fighter, which was based on his tumultuous life
in hardscrabble Lowell, Mass., and received seven Oscar
nominations. However, no amount of financial compensation could
make up for his shattered hand, blurred vision, and damaged brain.
The book covers familiar terrain, and the authors eagerly embrace
venerable sports clichés of manly fortitude and undaunted heroism.
Despite these shortcomings, their diligent research and insider
feel for the sport result in an engaging overview of two very
different paths toward three of boxing’s best-known fights.
Raspanti and Taylor’s most impressive accomplishment is to humanize
the shirtless icons of pay-perview, making the bloody drama of the
ring even more difficult to watch and the fighters even more
admirable.
*Publishers Weekly*
Intimate Warfare by Dennis Taylor and John J. Raspanti chronicles
one of boxing’s historic trilogies, the three-fight drama that
starred Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward. In a short thirteen-month
period, between May 2002 and June 2003, two professional fighters
displayed everything that’s brutal and beautiful about boxing, the
core of a sport that’s more than sport. The book’s title not only
frames the narrative but provides its thematic foundation: Intimate
because after thirty rounds Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward knew each
other so well they could identify each other’s breath and sweat and
spit; Warfare because after three violent acts Ward and Gatti could
recognize each other’s brave hearts. Writers Taylor and Raspanti
tell the true story of the Gatti/Ward trilogy with the insight of
witnesses who know boxing.... Taylor and Raspanti’s collaboration
seems seamless because the voice of this book, itself intimate, is
unified and entertaining and honest. While the two writers detail
the most glorious moments in each fighter’s career, Taylor and
Raspanti are at their best when riffing on boxing’s harder
truths.... If, by some sleight of time, I’d been able to read
Intimate Warfare before I saw my own personal trilogy of Gatti
fights, my appreciation of a rising Gatti, and of the epic third
installment of the Gatti/Ward war, would have been more layered,
more complete, and so more fulfilling. That marks Intimate Warfare
as the real deal.
*Boxing.com*
Intimate Warfare: The True Story of the Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward
Boxing Trilogy by Dennis Taylor and John Raspanti is a cracking
good read and brought back some great memories of watching these
epic bouts with my father. Boxing just doesn’t get any better in
terms of courage, heart and non-stop action than the three epic
contests between these two great warriors and the authors provide
the backdrop and details in a manner that makes this book hard to
put down.... Taylor and Raspanti provide a look into the makeup of
two men who were ultimate warriors, fighters who were willing to
ignore the risk, pain, and suffering and gave absolutely everything
they had when the faced one another in one of boxing’s greatest
trilogies of all time. I thoroughly enjoyed their story and highly
recommend it.
*International Boxing Research Organization*
Intimate Warfare consists of alternating chapters on Gatti and Ward
until they meet in the ring and their lives are joined. Like its
subjects, the book is a solid workmanlike effort.
*The Sweet Science*
For those of you who ... somehow missed it in 2016 when it was
released, there is a great new book out on the simply unforgettable
three-fight rivalry warriors Aturo Gatti and Micky Ward engaged in
back in 2002/2003, that just has to be read. If you didn’t get a
copy – released as it was just before Christmas – and you care
anything for the Gatti-Ward fights, then Intimate Warfare: The true
story of the Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward Trilogy is a must. The
reviews have all been excellent and the book – written by Dennis
Taylor and John J. Raspanti – covers the fascinating careers of
both sluggers, while the scintillating action contained within the
three super-fights is given fitting tribute. Indeed, with this kind
of subject matter, the book simply could not fail. Of course, Ward
was given the Silver Screen treatment in the fabulous film, 'The
Fighter,' and now both gladiators get the star treatment in this
new book.... [A]s special as Gatti-Ward was/is, Intimate Warfare
just might be the essential boxing read of 2016 (or 2017 if you
have yet to get hold of a copy).
*Boxing247.com*
This is a stirring, engrossing story, a paean to the 'Sweet
Science'; a thrilling glimpse into the world of prize fighting....
The authors, Dennis Taylor of Monterey and John A. Raspanti of San
Francisco obviously have a deep knowledge and love of the sport....
This is a terrific read for any sports fan.
*The Californian (US Today Network)*
[An] outstanding effort by Dennis and John. You learn about Micky
and you get to know Arturo Gatti and their troubled lives both in
and out of the ring.... The two authors obviously did their
homework when writing about this trilogy. But far beyond facts and
figures they captured the personal intimate relationship these two
men had. They respected each other in and out of the ring. Ward and
Gatti were unique in that way, far beyond what most athletes ever
feel for each other.... The book flows easily and [you can]
actually feel the pain being inflected as the fights were being
described.... Any boxing fan will love reading this book. It is a
gem!
*MaxBoxing*
This book was a great read. I remember the Gatti and Ward fights
very well. Dennis Taylor and John J. Raspanti have captured the
grit, passion, and determination of both fighters in their
enthralling new book, Intimate Warfare, which has a powerful
message about the true art and science of boxing.
*Virgil Hunter, trainer of two-time world champion boxer Andre
Ward*
This book is a vivid portrayal of Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti, two
of my favorite fighters, who fought three of the most enjoyable
fights of all time. They will never be forgotten and will always be
remembered in the history books of boxing.
*Joe Cortez, International Boxing Hall of Fame referee*
One of the greatest trilogies in the history of boxing. This book
captures all the thrilling moments that Micky Ward and the late
Arturo Gatti provided to those of us who were at ringside. It is a
must read.
*Harold Lederman, HBO Sports*
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