RIP Arturo "Thunder" Gatti

[sabotai]

Boxer Arturo Gatti reportedly found dead in Brazilian hotel room - ESPN

SAO PAULO -- Former boxing champion Arturo Gatti, one of the most exciting fighters of his generation, was found dead in a hotel room in the posh seaside resort of Porto de Galihnas early Saturday.

Police investigator Edilson Alves told The Associated Press that the body of the former junior welterweight champ was discovered in his hotel room at the tourist resort, where Gatti had arrived on Friday with his Brazilian wife Amanda and 1-year-old son.

Alves said police were investigating and it was unclear how the 37-year-old Canadian died.

"It is still too early to say anything concrete, although it is all very strange," Alves said.

A spokeswoman for the state public safety department said Gatti's wife and son were unhurt. The women declined to give a name in keeping with department policy.

"There were no bullet or stab wounds on his body, but police did find blood stains on the floor," she said.

Gatti first captured the junior welterweight title in 1995, when he defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in Atlantic City, N.J. His brawling style and natural charisma made him a fan favorite, and he became one of New Jersey's adopted sons while fighting some of his most memorable battles on the Boardwalk.

Another recently retired athlete gone way too soon.

[DeToxRox]

[BYU 14]

As a huge boxing fan this has been a rough two week stretch with Arguello and no Gatti. Real wierd from the article as it says he was on his second Honeymoon, but they also have a source stating he and his wife were having problems of some kind.

RIP

[bulletsponge]

holy shit

[Havok]

no way!

as a huge boxing fan myself, this breaks my heart

[SteveMax58]

Ah man...one of my favorite boxers of all time. This guy's picture should be in the dictionary next to the word "heart".

RIP Thunder...

[PurdueBrad]

I was going to order UFC 100 tonight but instead I will be taking the evening to rewatch the dvd set of the Gatti-Ward trilogy. This was a very, very sad death for me.

[BYU 14]

His Wife has been arrested. He was apparently drunk and it is speculated she hit him on the head from behind with something, then strangled him.

Police detain wife of former boxing champion Gatti
By TALES AZZONI, Associated Press Writer 33 minutes ago


SAO PAULO (AP)—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. She told The Associated Press that the Canadian also had a head injury.

The investigation was not complete, but Saraiva said authorities were preparing to present a formal accusation against Rodrigues, who denied being involved in her husband’s death.

Police said Rodrigues, a Brazilian, could not explain how she spent nearly 10 hours in the room without noticing that Gatti was already dead.

Police were investigating witness reports that the couple fought and Gatti was drunk when he returned to his room Friday night, Saraiva said, adding that police were told the pair were extremely jealous of each other and that he constantly complained of her clothing when she traveled to Brazil.

Acelino “Popo” Freitas, a four-time world champion Brazilian boxer, told Globo TV’s Web site on Saturday that he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife and that he “knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate.”

The couple’s 1-year-old son, who was unhurt, was with Rodrigues’ sister, Saraiva said.

The 37-year-old Gatti, whose epic trilogy with Micky Ward branded him one of the most exciting fighters of his generation, retired in 2007 with a career record of 40-9 and 31 knockouts.

Known for his straightforward punching and granite-like chin, Gatti captured the junior welterweight title in 1995, when he defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in Atlantic City.

[SteveMax58]

Wow...that's some shit.

[BYU 14]

Brazilian Police have ruled his death a suicide!!

Authorities in Brazil rule boxing champ Arturo Gatti's death a suicide, wife released from prison

This coming on the heels of the article quoted below that indicated the police were "sure" she was the killer.

How the fuck do you go from one extreme to the other so quickly? I also found it interesting that he tried to stab himself in the "back of the head" and there are no details on what the "new" findings are. This smells totally rotten!

Gatti death: Lawyer asks for release of wife

By BRADLEY BROOKS, Associated Press Writer Jul 14, 6:41 pm EDT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)—The Brazilian wife of Arturo Gatti asked to be released from jail, where she is held on accusations she strangled the former boxing champion with her purse strap as he drunkenly slept.

Her lawyer told The Associated Press on Tuesday he petitioned a court to release Amanda Rodrigues while the investigation continues. Celio Avelino expects the court in Recife to rule on Wednesday at the earliest.

Rodrigues told investigators she awoke Saturday about 6 a.m. to find her husband’s body in the apartment they rented in Porto de Galinhas, a seaside resort in Pernambuco state. She then called police, which Avelino said indicates her willingness to help authorities.

But police said she was the only suspect and they are certain she killed Gatti in their apartment where they and their 10-month-old son arrived for a second honeymoon last week. The boy was unhurt and was in the care of Rodrigues’ family.

Police spokeswoman Milena Saraiva told the AP the death may have even been premeditated and Rodrigues may have encouraged Gatti to drink excessively so she would be able to overpower him later.

“He was very drunk and that made it easier for her,” Saraiva said. “He was sleeping when she did this. She waited for the moment when he was drunk enough for her to do it.”

Saraiva stressed this was just one theory police were considering.

She also said Gatti’s body was released to his brother and it was her understanding the body would be flown to Canada on Wednesday.

Rodrigues told police she had a fight with Gatti after dinner on Friday and he pushed her to the ground, resulting in minor injuries to her elbow and chin. Witnesses also reported to police the couple fought and Gatti was drunk.

Police said Gatti had marks on his throat, indicating he was strangled, and a knife wound to the back of his head. They displayed a bloodied, white purse strap that was found near Gatti’s body, along with a small steak knife.

Saraiva said she could not confirm if Gatti was first strangled and then cut with the knife, or the opposite.

Chuck Zito, an actor and close personal friend of Gatti, said he spoke with Gatti a few weeks ago, and the boxer told him the couple was “probably going to get a divorce.”

Zito and Gatti met 13 years ago, when Zito was with Pamela Anderson and Raquel Welch at an Oscar De La Hoya fight. Gatti wanted to meet Welch, and the two men struck up a close relationship. Zito ended up accompanying Gatti to the ring for several of his most notable fights.

Zito said Gatti met his wife at the strip club Scores in New York and that Gatti’s friends tried to talk him out of marrying her.

AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta in New York contributed to this report.

[k0ruptr]

Corruption... why expect anything less.

[MikeVic]

I had no idea he was considered Canadian. Where did you guys get the Gatti/Ward DVD set?

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Since he was Canadian, is there any way the Canadian government may pursue their own investigation into the death of a Canadian citizen?

[Julio Riddols]

Have to agree, this seems pretty damn fishy.

[Samdari]

How many times do we have to say it before they learn. Don't marry the stripper.