Arturo Gatti Found Dead [Archive]

Laidback

07-12-2009, 03:13 AM

BOXING legend Arturo Gatti has been found dead in a hotel room in Brazil at the age of 37.
Early reports indicate the death may not have been due to natural causes with the former world champion appearing to have suffered injuries to his head.

Gatti, who was born in Italy, had arrived at the seaside resort of Porto de Galinhas with his wife and one-year-old son on Friday.

He held the IBF super-featherwight and WBC light-welterweight titles and was involved in a famous trilogy with 'Irish' Micky Ward, winning the last two contests on points.

Gatti faced Floyd Mayweather Jnr in June 2005 but it quickly became clear he was past his best and Money claimed the WBC crown courtesy of a sixth-round stoppage.

He retired in 2007 with a record of 40 wins — 31 by knockout — and nine losses.

*taken from the SUN....

Laidback

07-12-2009, 06:59 PM

He's wife is being accused of the murder? :dunno:
Police accuse wife in death of boxing champ Gatti
By TALES AZZONI, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 41 minutes ago
Buzz up!
Print

FILE - In this June 7, 2003, f…
AP - Jul 11, 7:19 pm EDT
1 of 7Boxing Gallery
Other Updates
UFC champ's ugly antics
Michael Jackson's sister says he was 'killed'
Moving tribute for McNair
SAO PAULO (AP)—Brazilian authorities detained the wife of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti and formally accused her Sunday of killing him at a posh seaside tourist resort in Brazil.

Police said 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues was taken into custody after contradictions in her interrogation and presented a formal accusation against her. Prosecutors will later decide whether she will be charged.

Rodrigues, who denies any involvement in her husband’s death, was the first to find the slain boxer’s body early Saturday inside the vacation apartment they were renting at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil, police said.

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 sustained a head injury.

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

Rodrigues told police she had a fight with Gatti after dinner Friday night and he pushed her to the ground during the altercation, causing her to sustain minor injuries to her elbow and chin. She told authorities Gatti was drunk and that a third party likely committed the crime after he went to the apartment by himself.

Witnesses had reported to police that the couple fought and that Gatti was drunk.

Authorities were told the couple was extremely jealous of each other and that Gatti constantly complained about her clothing when she traveled to Brazil, Saraiva said.

FILE - In this July 14, 2007 f…
AP - Jul 11, 5:58 pm EDT
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.”

They had planned to spend one month in Brazil on vacation.

The couple’s 1-year-old son, who was unhurt, was handed to 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 super featherweight title in 1995, when he defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in Atlantic City, N.J. He won the junior welterweight title in 2004.

Taken from Yahoo...****!!!! Everyones droppin like flies man!!