Arturo Gatti Found Dead

ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
edited July 2009 in All Encompassing Trip
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/boxing/8146305.stm

Sunday, 12 July 2009 07:49 UK

Former champion Gatti found dead




'Former world boxing champion Arturo Gatti has been found dead in a hotel room in north east Brazil.

The Canadian's body was discovered on Saturday at a holiday resort where he had gone with his wife and son.

Italian-born Gatti, 37, was IBF super-featherweight champion in 1995 and WBC light-welterweight champion in 2004. He retired in 2007.

His three-fight series against Micky Ward in 2002 and 2003 established him as one of the most prominent fighters.

Police are understood to be considering foul play because of reported evidence of injuries to Gatti's head but the cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

"It is still too early to say anything concrete, although it is all very strange," police investigator Edilson Alves was quoted as saying.

A spokeswoman for the Pernambuco public safety department confirmed that Gatti's wife and one-year-old son were unhurt.

The family had arrived in the resort of Porto de Galinhas on Friday.

Gatti's career spanned 49 fights and he won 40 of them, 31 by knockout.

He first fought Ward in May 2002 and the pair traded devastating blows for 10 rounds before Ward earned the split decision from the judges.

The rematch was just as brutal, with Gatti knocking Ward down in the third round with a big right. Ward not only recovered from the blow, which broke Gatti's hand, but managed to go the distance. This time, Gatti earned a unanimous decision.

Gatti and Ward had their decider at Boardwalk Hall in June 2003, Ward knocked Gatti to the floor in the sixth round, but despite fighting with his right hand broken again, Gatti managed to win the decision.

Ward and Gatti became close friends toward the end of their careers.

Ward told The Ring: "I'm walking around in a daze. I'm just dazed by it all. You fight a guy, you go to war with them, and there is a respect there. But with me and Arturo, it was greater.

"There was a real bond between us. It's why hearing this, hearing what happened to Arturo is like a piece of you is gone, because we shared so much of everything in the ring. We were friends, close friends."

Gatti eventually retired two years ago following a seventh-round knockout defeat by Alfonso Gomez.

Kathy Duva, of Gatti's promoters Main Events, described his death as an "unspeakable tragedy".

She said: "His entire boxing career he fought with us, we've known him since he was 17.

"He just captured the imagination of so many people."

Duva added: "I remember walking away from his last fight and somebody walked up to him in the casino late at night and congratulated him.

"He said 'Why did he congratulate me?' and I said 'He was excited to meet you' and he kind of looked very surprised by that. He had no idea what an icon he was or how much he meant to people."


Arturo Gatti Vs Micky Ward 1st fight:


Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4yZIWesr0s
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-zbtXiO5g0
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkGIWXQBD6A
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv7VjK1S1zU
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCy56HuuqU8
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • jimed14jimed14 Posts: 9,488
    looks like they charged his wife ... guess she used a purse strap to strangle him ...

    Reuters
    Sunday, July 12, 2009; 7:33 PM

    RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The Brazilian wife of former Canadian world boxing champion Arturo Gatti has been charged with his murder, police said Sunday.

    Italian-born Gatti, who was 37, was found dead Saturday in the holiday flat the couple had rented in the northern Brazilian seaside resort of Porto de Galinhas.

    Amada Rodrigues, 23, was being held in custody in the Atlantic port city of Recife, capital of Pernambuco state, police said.

    "She is the only suspect," a spokesman for Pernambuco police told Reuters by telephone.
    "You're one of the few Red Sox fans I don't mind." - Newch91

    "I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    jimed14 wrote:
    looks like they charged his wife ... guess she used a purse strap to strangle him ...

    Reuters
    Sunday, July 12, 2009; 7:33 PM

    RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The Brazilian wife of former Canadian world boxing champion Arturo Gatti has been charged with his murder, police said Sunday.

    Italian-born Gatti, who was 37, was found dead Saturday in the holiday flat the couple had rented in the northern Brazilian seaside resort of Porto de Galinhas.

    Amada Rodrigues, 23, was being held in custody in the Atlantic port city of Recife, capital of Pernambuco state, police said.

    "She is the only suspect," a spokesman for Pernambuco police told Reuters by telephone.

    Damn, I didn't see that new update.
  • smarcheesmarchee Windsor, Ontario Posts: 14,539
    this story is big news in Canada

    funny though I have never heard of him till now
    1998 ~ Barrie
    2003 ~ Toronto
    2005 ~ London, Toronto
    2006 ~ Toronto
    2008 ~ Hartford, Mansfied I,
    2009 ~ Toronto, Chicago I, Chicago II
    2010 ~ Cleveland, Buffalo
    2011 ~ Toronto I, Toronto II, Ottawa, Hamilton
    2013 - London, Pittsburgh, Buffalo
    2014 - Detroit
    2019 - Chicago X 2
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    smarchee wrote:
    this story is big news in Canada

    funny though I have never heard of him till now

    Check out his first fight with Micky Ward. It's su-fuckin-perb.

    I still need to get around to watching the 2nd and 3rd fights.
  • Watched quite a few of his fights. He sure didn't have a glass jaw!

    The poison from the poison stream caught up to you ELEVEN years ago and you floated out of here. Sept. 14, 08

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