Arturo Gatti Jr., the son of boxing legend Arturo Gatti, has reportedly died at the age of 17.
Chuck Zito, who was Gatti’s close friend and served as the former champion’s bodyguard, revealed in a social media post on Wednesday that Gatti Jr. was found dead in an apartment in Mexico on Tuesday. Zito said Gatti Jr. was found dead “the same way” the elder Gatti was found dead in Brazil on July 11, 2009.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I have to say …. R.I.P. to 17-year-old ARTURO GATTI JR. who was found hanging in an apartment in Mexico yesterday. The same way they found his Father dead in an apartment in Brazil 16 years ago. My condolences to Arturo Gatti Seniors — Mom, Sisters, Brothers, and his daughter Sophia,” Zito wrote on Instagram.
TVA Nouvelles, a French-speaking media outlet in Canada, reports (via the Daily Mail) that Gatti Jr. was in Mexico with his mother Amanda Rodrigues prior to the 17-year-old’s death. It is unclear if foul play is suspected.
Gatti Jr. was born 10 months before Gatti died at the age of 37 while on vacation with Gatti Jr. and Rodrigues in Brazil. The elder Gatti’s death remains controversial, as Rodrigues was arrested on suspicion of murder a day after she told authorities that she discovered Gatti’s body. Rodrigues was later released from prison and Gatti’s death was ruled a suicide.
Gatti went 40-9 with 31 knockouts in his career and held world championships in two weight classes. He is known largely for his epic trilogy against fellow legendary fighter Micky Ward.
Gatti Jr. had been training in hopes of becoming a professional boxer like his father.
