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Arturo Gatti Jr., son of the late boxing legend Arturo Gatti, has died, the World Boxing Association (WBA) reported on Wednesday. He was 17 years old.
The WBA issued a statement on social media.
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Arturo Gatti at the press conference announcing his next fight against Alfonso Gómez on May 22, 2007. (Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY)
“The WBA and the boxing world mourn the passing of Arturo Gatti Jr.,” the organization wrote in X. “His journey was just beginning, but his spirit will live on, now reunited with his legendary father among the stars.
“Our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Chuck Zito, Gatti Sr.’s former bodyguard, also confirmed the teen’s death on social media. He wrote on social media that the young Gatti was “found hanging in an apartment in Mexico.” Additional details about the teen’s death were unclear.
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Gatti Jr. initially sought to follow in his legendary father’s footsteps with an amateur boxing career in hopes of reaching the Olympics, according to ESPN. He was not even a year old when his father was found dead in a hotel in Brazil in 2009.
Gatti’s widow, Amanda Rodrigues, was initially charged with murder in his death. But Brazilian authorities later determined his death was a suicide. Rodrigues had the charges dropped.
Mickey Ward (white/red underpants) and Arturo Gatti (white underpants) exchange blows during their fight at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on June 7, 2003. (Ed Mulholland/USA TODAY Sports)
The boxer went 40-9 during his career and had epic fights with Oscar De La Hoya, Mickey Ward and Floyd Mayweather Jr. He held the IBF junior lightweight and WBC super lightweight titles during his career.
