Joe Souza RIP

A young Arturo Gatti was making his first junior lightweight title defense against Wilson Rodriguez in March 1996 in what turned out to be a dramatic sixth-round knockout victory. It was the fight that began the Gatti legend as the comeback king and ultimate blood and guts warrior.
But without famed cutman Joe Souza, who died Monday night at his home in San Antonio after battling prostate cancer since 2002 at age 77, in his corner, Gatti probably would not have been able to continue in the fight long enough to make the stirring comeback.
<cite>Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images</cite>Cutman Joe Souza, shown here with Vitali Klitschko in 2003, died Monday night from prostate cancer. He was 77.


Gatti's right eye was badly swollen by the third round and the fight was on the verge of being stopped, but Souza, a master in the corner when it came to reducing swelling and closing cuts, worked his magic, allowing Gatti to continue.
It was the first of their many fights together, and Pat Lynch, who managed Gatti for his entire career, gave Souza credit for the impressive work on the eye.
"He saved Arturo's title that night," said Lynch, who had hired Souza on the recommendation of their mutual friend, trainer and manager Lou Duva. "If Joe didn't open the eye in the corner, he would have lost the title that night."
Souza, also an amateur boxing coach in San Antonio, worked with numerous top professionals during his career. His first champion was San Antonio star James Leija, who won a junior lightweight title with Souza in his corner in 1994. Souza, who learned from mentor Ace Marotta, worked with numerous star fighters, including Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Fernando Vargas and Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, among many others.


http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/7240617/longtime-cutman-joe-souza-dies-77-prostate-cancer