Former world boxing champion Arturo Gatti, who was raised in Montreal, has been found dead in northeastern Brazil.
On a second honeymoon with his wife and 10-month-old baby, Gatti's blood-stained body was found in an apartment in Porto de Galinhas, Brazilian police say.
A police investigation is underway, but few details are being released. Foul play is suspected in the death.
Gatti's body was found at around 6 a.m. Saturday morning. He was found in his underwear, with blood stains on his neck and the back of his head.
Nicknamed "Thunder," Gatti was one of the most successful Canadian boxers in history. Beginning his professional career in 1991 at age 19, he scored a third-round knockout in his first bout.
Three years later he captured the United States Boxing Association junior lightweight title and successfully defended it twice. He earned the International Boxing Federation's world junior lightweight title the following year.
Born in Italy but raised in Montreal, the 37-year-old Gatti retired two years ago.
Cosmic@ 7/11/2009 9:34 PM
Always like Gatti. Always rooted for him. Felt he should have retired a bit earlier though. I know it's hard to walk away from things but in boxing, especially in boxing, when you see a good fighter late in his career getting lit up, it tends to sour you on his legacy. Moreso than so an NFL or NBA vet that just stayed in the game a year or two to long. It's much more personal in boxing.
Still, unfortunate to see news like this.
TMS@ 7/12/2009 2:27 PM
wow, sorry end to a tough as nails fighter... Gatti vs. Ward will forever go down as 1 of the greatest matchups of alltime.
Cosmic@ 7/12/2009 3:43 PM
SAO PAULO — The wife of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti was detained as a suspect by Brazilian authorities Sunday following his death at a posh seaside resort.
Police said 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues was taken into custody after contradictions in her interrogation.
Gatti's body was found early Saturday in a hotel room at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil.
The former junior welterweight champion was apparently strangled with the strap of a purse, which was found at the scene with blood stains, said Milena Saraiva, a spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state civil police.
=========== How is that even possible? He must have been passed out drunk. Otherwise the moment she loops the purse strap around his neck he's going to punch her in the face and drop her like a fly. I can't see how this happened with him coherently sober.
TMS@ 7/12/2009 3:58 PM
i'm guessing she knocked him over the head w/a blunt object & knocked him out, then maybe strangled him to death... either that or she had an accomplice.
SupremeCommander@ 7/12/2009 4:14 PM
Well I'm guessing the retired professional athlete should stay away from crazy whore!! Good God
BasketballJones@ 7/12/2009 5:21 PM
A boxer was strangled with a purse strap by a woman?
VDesai@ 7/12/2009 6:30 PM
That's F'd up. Gatti was one of the most entertaining fighters to watch over the last 10 years.
TheGame@ 7/13/2009 3:31 AM
THese women are getting crazier ever year. Best policy, get married and stay faithful or else you are playing russian roulette with your life.
Second best policy, hit it and quit it and never let them know your real name or where you live.
Cosmic@ 7/13/2009 6:41 AM
Well...there you have it I guess.
...
Again, everyone is innocent until proven guilty and we're throwing no accusations out whatsoever, but latest reports from police in Brazil are that they believe Gatti was passed out drunk, when Amanda Rodrigues stabbed him in the back of the head with a kitchen knife. When that didn't kill him, she strangled him with a purse strap. These are the allegations as being presented right now.
...
McNair and Gatti. Millionaires mixed up with the wrong chicks.
SupremeCommander@ 7/13/2009 10:20 AM
Posted by TheGame:
THese women are getting crazier ever year. Best policy, get married and stay faithful or else you are playing russian roulette with your life.
Second best policy, hit it and quit it and never let them know your real name or where you live.
Agreed. Third best policy is to be a serial monogamist and honest and straight forward from day one
