Joey Gamache

Joseph Gamache is an American boxing trainer and former professional boxer. He is the second boxer from Maine to capture a world boxing title, as he won the WBA super featherweight title in 1991 and the WBA lightweight title in 1992. He retired with a record of 55–4, with his losses being to Tony Lopez, Orzubek Nazarov, Julio César Chávez and Arturo Gatti.

Early years

At the age of 10, playing third base in Little League Baseball, Gamache tended to loop his throws to first base. His father suggested that if he worked out in a boxing gym he might strengthen his arms and straighten out his long throws across the infield. Gamache would come to love the rites of the gym and soon set aside baseball to become a boxer.

Professional boxing career

Gamache was trained by Tony Lampron and Teddy Atlas. He turned professional in 1987 and won his first 28 bouts.

Two-weight world champion

In 1991, Gamache defeated Jerry Ngobeni to capture the vacant WBA super featherweight title. He vacated the title to move up to lightweight. The following year, Gamache defeated Chil-Sung Chun to win the vacant WBA lightweight title. He lost the lightweight title in his first defense to Tony Lopez via TKO in the eleventh round. Gamache fought bravely against the stronger, more experienced Lopez. In 1994, Gamache fought Orzubek Nazarov for the WBA lightweight title, but lost via second-round TKO. He fought Julio César Chávez in 1996. The referee stopped the fight at the end of the 8th round, giving Chávez a harder-than-expected victory.

Retirement

In his last fight on February 26, 2000, Gamache was brutally knocked out in two rounds by Arturo Gatti at Madison Square Garden. Gamache went on to file lawsuits against both Gatti and the New York State Athletic Commission, alleging that Gatti weighed significantly more than the contracted weight at the time of the fight. A NYSAC official allowed Gatti off the scale before it could be determined that he had made the 141-pound weight limit. HBO said Gatti weighed 160 pounds on fight night compared to Gamache's 145 pounds. Gamache said he suffered brain damage as a result of the brutal knockout and was hospitalised for days. The case was tried and decided by Judge Melvin Schweitzer, who found the state negligent in its lax handling of the pre-fight weigh-in. Gamache was not awarded any damages, as Schweitzer was not convinced that the negligence was a substantial factor in causing Gamache's injury. Gamache considered the verdict a win as it acknowledged the NYSAC's negligence.

Professional boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
59	Loss	55–4	Arturo Gatti	KO	2	Feb 26, 2000	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
58	Win	55–3	Craig Houk	TKO	6	1999-11-05	Armory, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
57	Win	54–3	Jerry Smith	TKO	8	1999-08-07	BI-LO Center, Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.
56	Win	53–3	John Bailey	UD	10	1999-04-30	Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.
55	Win	52–3	Mark Brannon	TKO	4	1998-11-20	Catfish Bend Casino, Burlington, Iowa, U.S.
54	Win	51–3	Chuck Sturm	TKO	6	1998-08-30	Mountaineer Casino, New Cumberland, West Virginia, U.S.
53	Win	50–3	Tim Scott	TKO	3	1998-07-30	Roxy Theater, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
52	Win	49–3	Felix Dubray	KO	4	1998-05-09	Casino Omaha, Onawa, Iowa, U.S.
51	Win	48–3	Felix Dubray	KO	3	1998-02-20	Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
50	Win	47–3	Julio Ibarra	TKO	3	1997-10-24	Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
49	Win	46–3	Rocky Berg	KO	3	1997-06-14	Casino Omaha, Onawa, Iowa, U.S.
48	Loss	45–3	Julio César Chávez	RTD	8	1996-10-12	Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.
47	Win	45–2	Tim Bonds	TKO	5	1996-07-31	Prairie Meadows, Altoona, Iowa, U.S.
46	Win	44–2	Rocky Martinez	UD	12	1996-03-31	Sullivan Gymnasium, Portland, Maine, U.S.	Won vacant WBU light-welterweight title
45	Win	43–2	Tim Payton	TKO	4	1996-02-09	Ho-Chunk Casino, Delton, Wisconsin, U.S.
44	Win	42–2	Kenneth Kidd	UD	8	1995-11-20	Marriott Allis Plaza Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
43	Win	41–2	Tony Enna	TKO	8	1995-11-08	Hyatt Regency Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
42	Win	40–2	Danny Mason	TKO	4	1995-09-15	Everett Arena, Concord, New Hampshire, U.S.	Won vacant New England light-welterweight title
41	Win	39–2	Jose Ruiz	TKO	1	1995-08-19	Hyatt Regency Hotel, Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
40	Win	38–2	Tony Enna	TKO	7	1995-08-01	New Daisy Theatre, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
39	Win	37–2	Tim Bonds	KO	5	1995-07-11	New Daisy Theatre, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
38	Loss	36–2	Orzubek Nazarov	KO	2	1994-12-10	Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine, U.S.	For WBA lightweight title
37	Win	36–1	Wayne Boudreaux	UD	10	1994-06-02	Central Maine Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
36	Win	35–1	Jeff Mayweather	UD	12	1994-01-28	Central Maine Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.	Won vacant NABF light-welterweight title
35	Win	34–1	Han Kim	TKO	1	1993-12-08	Armory, Augusta, Maine, U.S.
34	Win	33–1	Jeff Bumpus	TKO	10	1993-09-10	Central Maine Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
33	Win	32–1	Bobby Amsler	TKO	5	1993-06-26	Auditorium, Bangor, Maine, U.S.
32	Win	31–1	Rocky Berg	TKO	2	1993-04-23	Auditorium, Bangor, Maine, U.S.
31	Win	30–1	Mike Grow	UD	10	1993-02-12	Central Maine Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
30	Loss	29–1	Tony Lopez	TKO	11	1992-10-24	Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine, U.S.	Lost WBA lightweight title
29	Win	29–0	Chil Sung Jun	TKO	9	1992-06-13	Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine, U.S.	Won vacant WBA lightweight title
28	Win	28–0	Tommy Hanks	UD	10	1992-03-27	Exposition Building, Portland, Maine, U.S.
27	Win	27–0	Rick Souce	TKO	3	1992-01-24	Gennevilliers, France
26	Win	26–0	Tim Tipton	KO	2	1991-11-22	Complex Sport le COMEP, Épernay, France
25	Win	25–0	Jerry Ngobeni	TKO	10	1991-06-28	Raceway, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.	Won vacant WBA super-featherweight title
24	Win	24–0	Verdell Smith	TKO	6	1991-05-10	Central Maine Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
23	Win	23–0	Arthur Clarke	KO	3	1991-04-12	Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
22	Win	22–0	Jackie Beard	TKO	8	1991-02-05	Central Maine Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
21	Win	21–0	Jeff Franklin	UD	12	1990-11-09	Central Maine Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.	Retained IBF Inter-Continental super-featherweight title
20	Win	20–0	Brian Brown	UD	10	1990-05-18	Civic Center, Augusta, Maine, U.S.
19	Win	19–0	Nelson Rodriguez	UD	12	1990-04-06	Central Maine Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.	Retained IBF Inter-Continental super-featherweight title
18	Win	18–0	Irving Mitchell	TKO	4	1990-01-05	Central Maine Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.	Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental super-featherweight title
17	Win	17–0	Richie Foster	UD	10	1989-09-28	Central Maine Civic Center, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
16	Win	16–0	John Kalbhenn	UD	10	1989-07-03	The Ballpark, Old Orchard Beach, Maine, U.S.
15	Win	15–0	Roberto Rubaldino	RTD	7	1989-04-20	Armory, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
14	Win	14–0	Felix Dubray	TKO	7	1989-02-16	Armory, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
13	Win	13–0	Rafael Gandarilla	UD	8	1988-12-01	Armory, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
12	Win	12–0	Jose Soto	KO	1	1988-10-22	Salem Boys Club, Salem, New Hampshire, U.S.
11	Win	11–0	Mark Brannon	TKO	1	1988-09-02	Armory, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
10	Win	10–0	Shawn Spinda	KO	1	1988-06-30	Pavilion Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
9	Win	9–0	Benny Marquez	UD	8	1988-06-09	Armory, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	Stephan Zaffirof	UD	6	1988-04-23	Palais des Sports, Berck, France
7	Win	7–0	Samuel Meck	UD	6	1988-03-12	Stade de Levallois, Levallois-Perret, France
6	Win	6–0	Marc Amand	TKO	5	1988-01-30	Calais, France
5	Win	5–0	Ali Amouche	KO	3	1988-01-23	Palais des Sports, Gamaches, France
4	Win	4–0	Chris Godeaux	TKO	1	1987-12-04	Citrus Center Showcase, Winter Haven, Florida, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Johnny Redd	UD	6	1987-06-27	Armory, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	John Pitts	KO	3	1987-05-23	High School, Bucksport, Maine, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Al Jackson	RTD	3	1987-05-01	Armory, Lewiston, Maine, U.S.