It wasn't supposed to be easy, but with a little blood, guts, and skill, Arturo Gatti was supposed to lift the world welterweight title from Carlos Baldomir and ride off into the sunset of his glorious career. It didn't quite turn out that way.

Last night at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, in front of over 13,000 fans including Bernard Hopkins, Pernell Whitaker, and the man who Baldomir beat for the title - Zab Judah - Gatti took a methodical beating from the deceptively strong Baldomir, who finally stopped him with an onslaught of punches in the ninth round. Gatti, who may have won the first two rounds and perhaps rounds seven and eight when Baldomir held back, was never in the fight.

Gatti, 40-8 (32), looked quicker than Baldomir during the first round, as he fired left jabs and hooks and landed effectively. But as the rounds went by, Baldomir had Gatti timed, effectively counterpunching Gatti and landing his right hand at will. The champion dazed Gatti during an exchange at the end of round three, and it appeared that he would get to his opponent sooner than later. Sooner came in the ninth round, when Baldomir had Gatti against the ropes and banged away mercilessly with measured precision. After flooring Gatti, Baldomir finished the hometown hero with a series of unanswered blows, as Gatti slumped to the canvas. It wasn't lightning, but Baldomir's granite chin, perpetual stalking, and strong punching were good enough to defeat boxing's human highlight reel and retain his title. His "only" twelve knockouts just became thirteen.

Baldomir, 43-9-6 (13), showed himself to be a gracious champion when he accidentally landed a low blow and apologized to Gatti as soon as he did. He also touched gloves on several occaisons and was never disrespectful. Good for Baldomir. He made over $1 million for the fight and will certainly make at least as much in his next one. A journeyman no more, Baldomir has risen out of obsurity at age 35 to emerge as a true champion. He will not be easy to beat, even for a fighter as skilled as Floyd Mayweather.

As for Gatti, the time has definitely come for him to retire. He has gotten up from the canvas so many time and given us so many thrills, but the beating he took from Baldomir was in a way worse than the one Mayweather gave him. This was supposed to be Gatti's one last shot at a world title. He gave it his best. It wasn't enough.

And it looks as if Gatti's nine lives have finally run out.