Several boxing websites are reporting fan favorite Arturo Gatti has been found dead in a condo he was renting in Brazil. Apparently he was there with his wife and he spends time in the country. Rumors also suggest he may have had head trauma when found dead by his wife.
ESPN is reporting — Police in Brazil say former boxing champion Arturo Gatti has been found dead in a hotel room in the northeastern state of Pernambuco.
Police investigator Edislon Alves told The Associated Press that the body of the former junior welterweight champ was discovered Saturday morning in the posh seaside resort of Porto de Galinhas, where he arrived on Friday with his wife and 1-year-old son.
Alves said police were investigating. It was unclear how the 37-year-old Canadian died.
A spokeswoman for the public safety department said Gatti’s wife and son were unhurt.
“There were no bullet or stab wounds on his body, but police did find blood stains on the floor,” the spokeswoman said.
Gatti won the United States Boxing Association junior lightweight title and International Boxing Federation’s world junior lightweight title.
Gatti (40-9, 31 KOs) was best known for his all-action style, which was epitomized in his classic trilogy with Micky Ward in 2002 and 2003.
It’s why Gatti was a fixture at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., where he drew huge crowds and fought many times, including the final nine fights of his career.
In his first fight after the Ward trilogy — which Gatti won 2-1 — he captured a world title in his second division, outpointing Gianluca Branco for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title.
Gatti made two defenses before losing it to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via sixth-round TKO in June 2005. He returned to defeat Thomas Damgaard but lost his final two bouts, a ninth-round TKO in a challenge to then-welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir in July 2006 followed by a one-sided beating from former “Contender” star Alfonso Gomez in July 2007.
In the dressing room following the seventh-round knockout loss to Gomez, Gatti announced his retirement.
He had been working in real estate in Montreal following his retirement, but still attended fights, as he did in April for the Timothy Bradley-Kendall Holt junior welterweight unification bout at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
ESPN.com boxing writer Dan Rafael and The Associated Press contributed to this report
I miss Arturo very much. He was the last of a rare breed of fighter. But I can not accept them saying this was a suicide. Since day one I knew his wife didn’t kill him, but I thought someone did. Namely the sole called friend that was quick to comment on Gatti’s relationship. Acelino Frietas is also being questioned down there for possibly issuing a hit on his niece’s boyfriend. They need to look at Acelino Frietas.
lol.
you two need to get a hotel room.
be sure to bring a purse strap with you Ms. Leitner.
B!tch.
Oh my gawd! To the troglodyte who responded to my post, have you ever seen the Geico commercial with the cavemen?
How much did they pay you to do those? No need for a makeup artist I’m guessing.
Get a clue joker. And if you want to see how a woman really enjoys offing a jerk dude, just get in touch some time. I’ll show you.
And, while you’re at it, learn how to spell FIGHT.
OK, I respectfully must say to that last comment, POPPYCOCK!
Sorry to use such strong language, but psychobabbling supremacist lesbian women who reference these theories are beyond the pale.
Looked at that website and it’s clearly a put on. I’m open minded, and the mythology of women assassins and killers sexily doing away with guys ain’t bad in a bond film, or on a website like the one you mention. But what tix me off is taking entertainment like that and hoking up theories about something like what happened to a great fighter here. Websites like assassinette.blogpost.com, and movies like the bond 007 stuff, kill bill, etc, are cool.
But you better check in with a shrink when you start believing that women get off on killing dudes for sex thrills, and all this other garbage!
Im so so very sorry to find this out …Arturo was a GREAT BOXER AND A GOOD FRIEND OF LOWELLS THE IRISSH MICKEY WARD WATCHING THEM FIGHT EACH OTHER WAS THE BEST THING I EVER SAW IN PERSON ….IM SO SORRY AND SAD TO FIND OUT HE PAST AWAY…..IM IN DISBELIEFE HE WAS A LEGAND TO ME AND I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM …..THERE WAS A FIGHT BETWEEN HIM AND WARD THAT ENDED UP WITH BOTH OF THEM IN THE HOSPOTAL AFTER .LAYING IN DIFFRENT BEDS NEXT TO EACH OTHER LAUGHING AND ALL BRUISED AND BLOODY ……AND THEY WHERE TALKING ABOUT THERE NEXT FIGHT ..HE WAS A WARRIOR AND A GREAT MAN …..THIS IS HORRIBLE !I HOPE WE FIND OUT THE TRUETH SO HE CAN REST IN PEACE ……..I LOVE YOU ARTURO GATTI YOULL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART
WoW, I was shocked to hear about the unfortunate death of boxing legend Arturo “Thunder” Gatti. He was truly one of a kind. The endless Heart and seemingly unbreakable Will that Gatti displayed in the ring was legendary. No fight fan will ever forget the three incredible wars fought between Arturo Gatti and “Irish” Micky Ward. Three of the greatest boxing matches Ive ever seen. He will be sorely missed. My condolences to his family and young son. I cant imagine the grief they must be feeling. May God comfort them through these difficult times.My thoughts and prayers are with them.
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Good Bye Arturo, May You Rest In Peace.. } In Loving Memory {
} Of {
} Arturo Gatti {
} R.I.P {
} 1972 – 2009 {
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“People pay to come and see you fight, and a lot of guys don’t do what they are supposed to do.,” “But that’s who I am. I’m a fighter. I’m a gladiator. I was definitely born for this.” Arturo Gatti.
This is why everyone loves him, he always gave more, even when he would lost he would always have a smile in his face and ask fans if they liked the fight, he will never be forgotten.
This is really F-tup , looks like he and his wife were having problems and were going to separate, it’s really sad to think there is a child who will maybe grow up without mother and father, such a big loss for everybody, Gatti was the man, truly a throwback to the golden age of boxing, I still can believe he is gone too.
Such tragic news, it is a good thing to hear that his child and wife were not hurt. Gatti was such a proficient boxer who always gave his fans the fight that they were looking for. He will truly be missed by all his fans around the world. May he rest in peace, condolences to his family.
Hey Tijuana he was one of my fav’s as well, Gati. My heart goes out too his one year old son and his family, met Arturo in Montreal a long time ago, very nice guy, Tough as nails, he was also very funny he loved too laugh all the time. Heard the news yesterday at a Bar B Q, it was quite shocking news to hear.
He will always be remembered as a true warrior in the ring who always gave it his all, I’ll never forget that fight with him and Irish Micky Ward, that fight was brilliant and exciting.
R.I.P Rest in peace my friend, you will be definitely missed for years
to come.
Update to this article from me:
His wife is being held as a suspect in this crime. Very sad and all to frequent lately. Stay away from violence people!
OMG, he was one of my favorite boxers, always gave his all inside the ring and I had much respect for that, there was never a boring Gatti fight, I hope we find out exactly what happen, the good thing is that his wife and kid are not hurt.
Thanks for the good times!
Much support to his family in this hard times.
You will always be the peoples Champ!
R.I.P.
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