NEW YORK -- In a tiny ring set up at a new Times Square sporting goods store, Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti embraced on Wednesday, a couple of boxing warriors preparing for a rematch.

There is mutual respect between them after Ward won a bloody 10-round decision last May. Now they'll go at each other again Saturday night at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall in a fight to be televised by HBO.

"If you saw the first fight,'' Gatti said, "the second fight will be just as good. Maybe we'll top the first one.''

That would be a tall order for these two tough guys, a pair of perpetual motion junior welterweights. They put on what many view as the Fight of the Year last May at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., an action-filled bout that earned them a bigger stage for the rematch.

"We're happy to be involved with this historic rematch,'' promoter Lou DiBella said. "Micky and Arturo deserve a huge showcase and we're thrilled HBO is giving it to them.''

The cable network promises to dress up the production with special touches to mark the 500th fight since it began broadcasting boxing with the 1973 heavyweight fight between George Foreman and Joe Frazier from Kingston, Jamaica.

For Ward and Gatti, a couple of throwback boxers, the frills are not necessary.

"I think of nothing but being a fighter,'' Gatti said. "It's a tough sport. You got to love this sport. I don't give up. I will not quit.''

Ward is near the end of his boxing trail.

"It's been a long road getting here,'' he said. "Sometimes too long. I'm 37. I've got to make these fights count. This is not long term for me. I'll have one or two more fights and that'll be it. ''

He has walked away from the sport before.

Ward turned pro in 1985 and was becoming a journeyman fighter when he left the game in 1991 after losing six of nine fights. But he wasn't finished.

"Being away brought the hunger back,'' he said. "At first I said, `I'm done. I'm not coming back.' But I found out it was still in me. The comeback was the best move I made. I wanted to do it while I was still young enough. I saved three years of punishment.''

He won his first eight fights back and brings a 38-11 record with 27 knockouts into Saturday's match.

Gatti, who is 34-6 with 28 knockouts, remembered their first fight very well.

He cut Ward above the right eye in the first round but was knocked down in the ninth round after a brutal toe-to-toe exchange. The knockdown turned the decision Ward's way.

"He's a strong guy,'' Gatti said. "He's physically well-conditioned. I need to be prepared and do my homework. I was surprised he took the blows I landed for 10 rounds.

"I always thought the day I fought my twin would be a pretty good fight and it was.''

Gatti is the former IBF junior lightweight title, a title he won in December 1995 with a decision over Tracy Patterson.

Ward has never held one of the major world titles, though he did win the World Boxing Union light welterweight championship in March of 2000 when he went to England and stopped previously unbeaten Shea Neary.

Saturday night's undercard includes a 10-round junior lightweight bout between undefeated Nate Campbell and Renor Claure Rojas. Also on the card is the American debut of Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Audley Harrison, who will face Shawn Robinson in a six-rounder.