Ward, Gatti Autographed Bats To Be Auctioned On Ebay Nov 4, Proceeds To Benefit Gerald McClellan

31.10 - Fight fans eager for jr. welterweight sluggers Micky Ward (38-11, 27 KO's) and Arturo Gatti (34-6, 28 KO's) to slug it out at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall on November 23 can bring home a souvenir commemorating the legendary, highly-anticipated rematch. Recently, Ward and Gatti were photographed by noted boxing photographer Tom Casino for the cover of Ring Magazine's December 2002 issue. The two were photographed holding the bats in a pose simulating the famous 1961 photo of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle when both were threatening to break Babe Ruth's then-single season home run record.

Casino and The Ring's Eric Raskin have donated the two bats, signed by both Ward and Gatti, to be posted on eBay (www.ebay.com) with an opening bid of $100 per bat. All proceeds from the sale of the bats will be donated to former boxer, Gerald McClellan.

"With Ward-Gatti II grabbing headlines in sports pages throughout the country, it's a great opportunity to shine the national spotlight on a less fortunate fighter," said Ken Condon, President of Bally's Atlantic City. "These bats are the only two of their kind, so we are anticipating great interest and many generous bids. We look forward to joining the boxing community in presenting Gerald McClellan with some much needed financial support."

The auction for the bats begins on Monday, November 4, 2002 at Noon ET and ends Thursday, Nov. 14 at Noon ET, when the winners will be announced. Winners will be invited to attend the Nov. 20 pre-fight press conference scheduled to take place at Champs in Times Square, New York City. There, they will have their pictures taken, holding the autographed bats, with Ward and Gatti.

A brutal boxing match in 1995 permanently altered former middleweight champion Gerald McClellan's life. After being badly beaten by English fighter, Nigel Benn, McClellan suffered a subdural hematoma. He quickly slipped into a coma and was rushed into surgery to have the clot on his brain removed. Today, the once up and coming boxer from Freeport, Indiana is blind, partially deaf and barely able to walk. Brain damage has erased most of McClellan's memories and he must rely on his three sisters to take care of him.

Tickets for Ward/Gatti II are priced at $50, $100, $150, $200, and $300. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the main event scheduled for 11 p.m. Tickets are available at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Box Office, by calling TicketMaster at 1-800-736-1420, or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
The evening of boxing is presented by DiBella Entertainment, Main Events, Bally's Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, Everlast and Budweiser.

WARD-GATTI II APPROACHING SELLOUT