Gatti keeps title with KO

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — No bloody shorts? No broken hand? No down-to-the-wire finish? This wasn’t a typical Arturo Gatti fight.

Defending his WBC 140-pound title for the first time, Gatti knocked out top-ranked challenger Leonard Dorin in the second round Saturday and avoided the kind of slugfest that has defined his career.

“It’s great to get out of here early,” said Gatti, who won the title six months ago.

Gatti (38-6), who is known for leading with his face but winning with his heart, didn’t have to do either en route to a quick $1.75 million payday.

Holding the shorter Dorin (21-1-1) at bay with left jabs and keeping active to avoid protracted exchanges, he dominated the first round and most of the second.

In between, trainer Buddy McGirt reminded him of what they’d worked on in training camp — using body shots that would take advantage of his six-inch reach advantage.

“I told him to forget the head and look downstairs,” said McGirt, who took over as Gatti’s trainer after his disappointing 2001 loss to Oscar De La Hoya.

Gatti, 32, obliged. In the second, he unleashed a left-right-left combination to Dorin’s head, then wound up and delivered a crushing left hook to the body that nearly lifted the 5-foot-4 Dorin off his feet.

Dorin fell to his right knee, then to both as referee Randy Neumann stepped in and counted him out at 2:55 of the round, Gatti leaping into the arms of manager Pat Lynch in celebration.

“I knew he would leave the body open,” Gatti said of Dorin. “Once he went down, I knew it was over.”

Ringside physician Dr. Kenneth Remsen said the punch took Dorin’s breath away and caused his stomach to spasm. He may have broken a rib, Remsen said.

But Gatti, who broke his right hand in his two previous fights, came away without a mark.

Gatti, who won the title Jan. 24 in a unanimous decision over Gianluca Branco, said he hoped to take on either Floyd Mayweather, Jr., or Spadafora in his next defense.