HBO Sports, honored nine times with the George Foster Peabody Award for broadcast excellence in sports documentaries, will produce an all-new installment of the acclaimed LEGENDARY NIGHTS boxing documentary series, celebrating the most memorable fights in the network’s 40 years of presenting the sweet science. LEGENDARY NIGHTS, which captured the Sports Emmy®Award for Outstanding Edited Sports Series when it debuted in 2003, will feature a retrospective on one of boxing’s greatest rivalries this fall, spotlighting the three-fight slugfest between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward.
“With June 2013 marking the tenth anniversary of the third fight of the landmark Gatti vs. Ward trilogy, we believe now is the ideal moment to revisit this classic rivalry,” says Ken Hershman, president, HBO Sports. “This retrospective will offer new perspectives and deliver revealing insights on the two ring warriors who produced this all-time great moment in boxing history. We plan to present the special on a night with a major fight on HBO, ensuring a memorable night of boxing programming.”
The one-hour exclusive HBO Sports presentation LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD will revisit the unforgettable three-fight trilogy authored by junior welterweights Arturo Gatti of Jersey City, NJ and Micky Ward of Lowell, Mass. Over 13 months, these two throwback sluggers engaged in 30 electrifying rounds of action, with Gatti winning both Atlantic City bouts (Nov. 23, 2002 and June 7, 2003), following Ward’s dramatic triumph in the opener (May 18, 2002) in Uncasville, Conn.
The first 2002 battle was named Fight of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America, and the three fights have been widely celebrated as one of boxing’s greatest rivalries.
THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD will feature HBO Sports’ acclaimed blend of new interviews and thrilling fight action, highlighted by previously unseen archival footage. All three fights aired live on HBO and featured the ringside commentary of Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and the late Emanuel Steward on the first and third fights. Lampley, Merchant and George Foreman called the second bout.
In a remarkable twist, Ward wound up being Gatti’s trainer for his final pro fight against Alfonso Gomez in July 2007. Gatti fought 21 times on HBO in his pro career, while Ward appeared six times on HBO.
The special will also be available on HBO On Demand® and HBO GO®.
LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD is executive produced by Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producer, Bentley Weiner; co-producer, Gabe Spitzer; writer, Aaron Cohen.
