Image via Complex Original
The Fighter: Micky Ward's Most Badass Real-Life Moments
Unless you're a boxing diehard, the only thing you probably remember about “Irish” Micky Ward is his epic trilogy with the late Arturo Gatti. Whatever else you didn't know about the pride of Lowell, Mass., you'll find out by watching The Fighter, which hits theaters today. The movie, which stars Marky Mark as Micky and Christian Bale as his crackhead brother Dickie, chronicles the blue-collar fighter's rise to the top of the junior-welterweight class. It's a terrific modern-day Rocky, with awesome performances in both lead roles—so good that after seeing The Fighter, people will inevitably be searching YouTube to look for Micky's real-life highlights. Well, look no further: We've compiled Micky Ward’s Most Badass Real-Life Moments for your viewing pleasure...
5. Emanuel Augustus
DATE: 3/11/2000
COMPLEX SAYS: The 9th round of Ward's eventual 10-round decision over Emanuel Augustus is a good example of his fighting style. With his brutal, back-and-forth brawling steez, Ward made all of his fights worth watching. This 2000 bout was voted the Fight of the Year by The Ring. Those body shots were vicious!
4. Reggie Green
DATE: 10/1/1999
COMPLEX SAYS: Micky had a rep for enduring scores of blows throughout his fights before pulling out stunning KOs in the late rounds. By round 10, like Reggie Green here, Micky's opponents were simply all punched out.
3. Arturo Gatti II
DATE: 11/23/2002
COMPLEX SAYS: Micky finished his career with a record of 38-13, with only one of his losses coming via KO. He did, however, hit the canvas from time to time, including this flash knockdown in the second Gatti bloodbath. But even with an ill case of spaghetti legs and a glazed look in his eyes, he refused to go down. How Micky made it out of this round and go the distance is a feat of amazing heart...and chin.
2. Shea Neary
DATE: 3/11/2000
COMPLEX SAYS: Micky's knockout of then-undefeated British contender Shea Neary in 2000 is documented in The Fighter, and the film does a really good job of accurately recreating the bout. Those are what you call "sit the fuck down" uppercuts.
1. Arturo Gatti I
DATE: 5/18/2002
COMPLEX SAYS: How can Micky Ward's Most Badass Moment not be the Greatest Fight Ever? Any time Gatti and Ward stepped into the ring, you knew it was 'bout to be ON. It's too bad that The Fighter ends before the first Ward-Gatti bout. R.I.P., Arturo. And go watch The Fighter. It's good.