THE ITA LIA N - CA N A DI A N MAG A ZI N E SPRI N G 2 02 0 | N O. 13 3
IN HIS
FATHER’S
FOOTSTEPS ARTURO GATTI JR
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PARMA ITALIAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2020 RICETTA MELANZANE ALLA PARMIGIANA
COVERSTORY
IN HIS FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS SULLE ORME DEL PADRE BY - D I S A R A G E R M A N O T TA P H O T O S BY - D I V I N C E N Z O D ’ A LT O
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“The first time that I saw him I was shocked by the resemblance to his dad. I knew right away that it was Arturo Gatti’s son.”
Arturo Gatti Jr. goes for the knockout Arturo Gatti Jr. punta al KO
It’s
late afternoon on a frigid Friday in the dead of a Montreal winter. On the top floor of a mostlyempty, slightly dilapidated factory building in the city’s garment district is the Ring 83 Boxing Club. The large windows that line the walls offer a perfect view of the blazing orange sunset; it’s a spectacular backdrop for the boxing ring in the centre of the gym. Just outside the ring, a young boy is shadow boxing. The muscles on his small arms are well-defined, and the surprising strength of his blow is obvious when he hits one of the leather punching bags. The boy bobs and weaves, feet dancing, as he spars against his invisible opponent. His movements are graceful and natural, like he’s been doing this for years—or maybe it’s just in his blood. Moe Latif is the head trainer at Ring 83. It’s where some of Canada’s top fighters, such as David Lemieux, Jean Pascal and Adonis Stevenson, have honed their skills. Two years ago, Latif received a phone call from a mom who was interested in boxing lessons for her son. When the young boy walked into the gym for the first time, Latif says he knew immediately who he was. “The first time that I saw him I was shocked by the resemblance to his dad. I knew right away that it was Arturo Gatti’s son.” Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was an ItalianCanadian world champion welterweight boxer who was known for his exciting and brutal fighting style. The relentless energy and heart he brought to the ring made him a fan favourite. Gatti’s most memorable fights were against the Irish-American boxer Micky Ward. The pair squared off in a trilogy of matches in 2002 and 2003, two of which earned Ring Magazine’s “Fight of the Year” honours. In their final showdown, Gatti showcased his unwavering determination
by winning the fight with a broken hand. Arturo Gatti Jr. was only ten months old when his dad died tragically in 2009, but he says he’s come to know his father by watching videos of his fights. “I love to watch videos of my father on YouTube,” says Gatti Jr. “It inspires me and I know that I want to be like him. I’m sure that if my father was alive he’d want to see me box.” The young Gatti admits his mother was not too thrilled when he started pestering her to take boxing lessons at the age of seven. “My mom tried to put me in other sports. I wanted to do boxing and she put me in soccer, hockey, tennis. Finally, she saw that I wasn’t having that much fun so she brought me to the gym.” Ring 83 has become a second home for Gatti Jr. and it’s easy to see the strong ties he has forged with coach Latif and the other athletes who train at the gym. It’s a connection that extends far beyond the boxing ring. “A lot of the kids that come here, they’ve had a rough life. Some of them don’t have parents, some of them their parents passed away or abandoned them. We’ve become a family and created a really strong bond.” Latif says he also grew up without a father, and it’s something he and Gatti Jr. talk about all the time. “It’s sad but at the same time it makes us stronger because we know that we’re here for each other,” explains Latif. “A lot of these kids, if they weren’t here, I think that they would be on the street doing bad things. It’s a tough sport, it has a lot of negative sides, but I think it saves more people than it takes.” Gatti Jr. spends most of his weekday afternoons training at Ring 83. He’s even been given his own key to the gym so he can train whenever he wants. Latif says the 11 year-old shows a maturity and determination beyond his years. “He trains four or five times a week for two hours a day,” says the boxing coach. “He knows
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when it’s time to joke around and when it’s time to train really hard. He watches a lot of boxing fights and knows a lot of boxing history. It’s rare to see a kid that knows so much about the sport.” Latif says he is often awe-struck by how much Gatti Jr’s fighting style and demeanour resemble his legendary father’s. “His footwork and his boxing positions are so similar to his dad. The way he fights with his hands down sometimes and how he moves his shoulders is like his father.” And just like his famous father, Gatti Jr. could not contain his eagerness to get into the ring and participate in his first fight. Although boxers can start participating in exhibition fights as young as eight years old, Latif waited until Gatti Jr. turned 11 to put him in the ring. He wanted to make sure the boy could control his fearless and aggressive attitude, two more characteristics he shares with his father. “Arturo was so aggressive that I knew he wasn’t going to be able to follow the rules so that’s why I waited for him to turn 11,” explains Latif. “Aggression is good if you know how to control it.” The young Gatti was determined to prove to his coach that he was ready. He trained diligently for two months before participating in his first exhibition fight this past December. “I was nervous and stressed but I was sure I was gonna win because I trained a lot,” says Gatti Jr. “I’m very confident and I think it’s in my blood. My father was really confident too.” Gatti Jr. knocked out his opponent in the first round. He’s now eagerly anticipating his second fight in April. “I’m looking forward to winning that fight, too. I’m going to try another knock out. I want to be the best in everything. I want to beat everybody and be the one that everybody knows. I want everyone to know Arturo Gatti Jr.”
LIVINGITALIANSTYLE
M AT T H E W G I U F F R I D A
Occupation: Fashion design graduate and Ristorante Beatrice’s part-time go-to girl Generation: Third Mom’s side from: San Michele Di Serino, (Avellino), Campania Dad’s side from: Ardore Marina, (Reggio Calabria), Calabria Raised in: Montreal Speaks: Italian, English, French What would someone be surprised to know about you? I’m a volunteer with the Humane Society of Canada. I have a deep and unconditional love for animals, especially dogs. If I wouldn’t have become a fashion designer, I would have definitely loved to be a veterinarian and done volunteer work to help and save neglected animals. Hopefully, I can one day combine my love for fashion and animals and do something great! That’s the ultimate dream. Best thing about being Italian-Canadian: I’m proud to be Italian but I’m also very proud to be Canadian. The best thing about being both: I have joie de vivre, expressive passion and cooking qualities from being Italian, and kindness and understanding from being Canadian. I wouldn’t have it any other way. What’s an Italian tradition you want to carry on? Definitely Sunday dinner—it’s a must! Sunday dinner was a big thing in my family. No matter how hard our week was or how busy we were, we always made it a point to come together for Sunday dinners. I loved waking up every Sunday and smelling the homemade tomato sauce my mom was cooking (she was an amazing cook). Watching her cook and learning from her was my favourite thing to do. I hope to one day have my little family and share this tradition. Of course, this would mean making homemade pasta and tomato sauce too! Which movie title best describes your life and why? It’s hard to just pick one title for my rollercoaster life, but the one that really pulls at the heart is The Pursuit of Happyness. Sometimes, it takes a lot of motivation and perseverance—not to mention, sacrifice—to go after your goals and your dreams. The power of never giving up or never settling for something that’s just okay takes a lot of strength. Growing up, I was faced with many challenges and struggles that have tested every ounce of me and I never refused to quit or settle despite how long it may have taken me. Sometimes you need to risk everything you’ve got for the smallest chance that something great might happen.
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Makeup artist: Vanessa Davis
JESSICA ELIZABETH CRISAFI
Photographer: Liana Carbone (Haven Creative Studio)
Nickname: Matt, Brudder, Martin, Sal Occupation: Actor and social media content creator Age: 23 Generation: Third Dad’s side from: Grammichele, (Catania), Sicily Mom’s side from: São Miguel, Azores, Portugal Raised in: Montreal Speaks: English, French and enough Italian to order a coffee What would someone be surprised to know about you? I really like suiting up. The problem is that I’m constantly changing outfits due to the fact that I’m always trying to film skits. Regardless, any chance I get, I’m throwing on a suit. Fun fact, dress down days in school used to be dress up days for me! What’s the best thing about being ItalianCanadian? Definitely the food. Italian cuisine is one of a kind (when it’s done right). I’m a big foodie, I appreciate good food and wine, but then again my rule when it comes to food is if it won’t kill me, I’m trying it. What’s an Italian tradition you want to carry on? I never really had this growing up but Sunday dinners sound fun: the whole family getting together once a week, pasta, meatballs, loud talking, 17 and under at one table, 18+ at the other. What Italian stereotype do you completely live up to? I can tell you a whole story just using my hands. What movie title best describes your life and why? Austin Powers in Goldmember. The reason is because Mike Myers plays four different characters in the movie, which is a situation I really relate to. When it comes to my skits, I’m always playing different characters with the ultimate goal of making people laugh. Favourite Italian expression and why? “Meglio solo che male accompagnato.” I’m a big believer in surrounding yourself with the right people, but until you find those people, you’re better off alone than in bad company.
LDVA’s well-rounded curriculum includes Italian, French, Music, Arts and Physical Education Small classes help facilitate INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION and ACTIVE LEARNING Lower Elementary Montessori and Casa Montessori preschool are both CCMA accredited Scuola Materna Italian immersion preschool is recognized by the government of Italy
RECIPE
Egg
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plant
Parm
Melanzane alla parmigiana
T
he Parmigiana is a simple and tasty meal that can be enjoyed immediately or frozen to keep handy when needed. Its name, Parmigiana di Melanzane, suggests that it originates from Parma, however the origin of the dish is uncertain and is more widely considered a traditional food from the regions of Campania and Sicilia.
L Recipe prepared by
Chef Luca Cianciulli at his restaurant Moccione (Villeray, Montreal)
Photos by Daniele Tomelleri Food styling by Vittoria Zorfini
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a Parmigiana è un piatto semplice e gustoso che può essere consumato immediatamente o congelato per tenerlo a portata di mano quando serve. Il suo nome, Parmigiana di Melanzane, potrebbe far pensare che provenga da Parma, tuttavia l’origine del piatto è incerta ed è considerata, perlopiù, una ricetta tradizionale delle regioni Campania e Sicilia.