The son of late boxing legend Arturo Gatti has tragically died at the age of 17 after being found hanged in a Mexico apartment.
Just over 16 years since his father’s mysterious death in Brazil, Arturo Jr passed away in the North American country on Tuesday, it has been announced.
According to French-speaking Canadian network TVA Nouvelles, the teenager was in Mexico with his mother, Amanda Rodrigues, before his shock passing. He was reportedly found dead by a neighbor.
Chuck Zito, who served as close friend Gatti’s bodyguard throughout his career, was first to share the devastating news Wednesday.
‘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,’ Zito, an American actor and stuntman, wrote alongside a series of photos of Arturo Jr and Sr on Instagram. ‘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.’
The son of late boxing legend Arturo Gatti has died at the age of 17 after being found hanged
Gatti Jr was aiming to follow in his dad’s footsteps and carve out a boxing career of his own before his death. He first laced up a pair of gloves at the age of six and went on to enjoy several amateur bouts, with his long-time coach Mo Latif reportedly due to head out to Mexico before his death.
The teenager, who had a close relationship with heavyweight boxing great Mike Tyson, was expected to one day turn professional.
Gatti Sr, a former two-weight world champion who shared arguably the greatest boxing trilogy of all time with great rival Micky Ward, was found dead in a Brazilian condo while on vacation with his son and wife Amanda Rodrigues back in 2009.
Rodrigues was arrested on suspicion of murder 24 hours after she claimed to have discovered his body on the kitchen floor of the condo in Porto de Galinhas. She was eventually released from prison 18 days later before authorities ruled Gatti’s death as suicide.
