ARTURO GATTI DEFENDS HIS WBC CROWN AGAINST FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR IN THE YEAR'S MOST ANTICIPATED SHOWDOWN

Arturo "Thunder" Gatti will put his WBC Super Lightweight Championship on the line on June 25 when he challenges boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter, WBC No. 1 ranked contender, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. The epic super lightweight championship showdown, "Thunder & Lightning", will be jointly hosted by Caesars Atlantic City and Bally's Atlantic City, and will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

"Gatti-Mayweather is the most highly anticipated fight of the year", said Main Events CEO, Kathy Duva. "And it is destined to take its place alongside the other great junior welterweight showdowns in history, such as Pryor-Arguello and Whitaker-Chavez."

"I'm very happy that the fight was finally made," said Arturo Gatti. "I'm looking forward to June 25th. You'll see Arturo Gatti at his best."

"This is a fight the public really wants to see," said Bob Arum of Top Rank. "It's a riveting matchup and I personally cannot wait to be at ringside on June 25th."

"I'm excited because this really is a big fight, we're on pay-per-view and I've always wanted to get Gatti in the ring," said Floyd Mayweather, Jr. "I never take any fight for granted - none at all - and I'll train extremely hard and be completely prepared when I get into Atlantic City."

"Gatti vs Mayweather is a compelling showdown between two of the marquee fighters in the sport today," said Mark Taffet, HBO Senior Vice President of Sports Operations & Pay-Per-View. "It's a fight that boxing fans will be talking about before, during and undoubtedly after June 25th."

"Caesars Entertainment is thrilled to host the World Super Lightweight Championship in Atlantic FCity's Boardwalk Hall," said Bally's President, Ken Condon. "Fight fans will witness the world's most exciting boxer, Arturo Gatti, defending his title against Floyd Mayweather, who many believe is the world's best pound for pound fighter. This event is guaranteed to be one of the most exciting events in Atlantic City boxing history."

Gatti (39-6, 30 KOs) has participated in the "Fight of the Year" five times (1996-1998; 2002-2003). The 32-year old Montreal, Canada native and current Jersey City, NJ resident captured the vacant WBC super lightweight title in January 2004, when he defeated the WBC No. 1 ranked contender Gianluca Branco. The Branco bout was Gatti's first since his epic trilogy against Mickey Ward in 2002-2003. Gatti has defended the title twice, stopping Leonard Dorin in two rounds and Jesse James Leija in five rounds.

Mayweather (33-0, 22 KOs) is a two-time world champion who has consistently given one sensational performance after another in the ring. The 27 year old Grand Rapids, MI native won the WBC 130-pound world title and The Ring magazine's "Fighter of the Year" award at the age of 21. Today, he is considered by many observers to be the best boxer at any weight. In his last fight in January, he dominated Henry Bruseles and stopped him in the eighth round. The Associated Press reported from ringside, "While Mayweather set the tone with his speed, he used an impressive power-punching display in the eigth to send Bruseles to the canvas..." Fightnews.com reported, "Floyd Mayweather solidified his hold on the mythical number one pound for pound boxer in the world with a dominating eight round knockout..."