Arturo Gatti Jr., the son of late boxing icon Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, has died on the age of 17.
The beginner fighter was simply an toddler when his father died by suicide in 2009 at age 37. The youthful Gatti was discovered useless in the identical method earlier this week at an condo in Mexico Metropolis, based on a social media submit from his former bodyguard Chuck Zito.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I have to say,…. R.I.P. to 17-year-old ARTURO GATTI JR.,” Zito wrote Wednesday on Instagram, including: “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.”
Authorities haven’t but confirmed the teenager’s official reason behind demise.
Gatti Jr. had moved to Mexico Metropolis to coach at native boxing academies so he may ultimately make his skilled debut, based on CBS Information. He was reportedly residing in an condo along with his mom, Amanda Rodrigues, Gatti Sr.’s widow.
The youthful Gatti was 10 months previous when his father, a world champion in two separate weight lessons, was discovered useless at an condo in Brazil he had rented with Rodrigues. She was arrested as a suspect on the time earlier than investigators dominated his demise a suicide.
Rodrigues spoke proudly of her son in 2012, telling CBS Information correspondent Erin Moriarty on “48 Hours Mystery,” “He’s everything I asked God for. Junior makes me complete.”
“The smile is the same… just like his daddy,” she added. “I miss my husband very much.”
Gatti Sr. was a world champion within the tremendous featherweight division within the Nineteen Nineties and the tremendous light-weight division within the 2000s. Gatti Jr. shared a modified picture on Instagram solely two weeks in the past depicting the 2 standing subsequent to one another of their boxing gear.
“The WBA and the boxing world mourn the passing of Arturo Gatti Jr.,” the World Boxing Affiliation wrote Wednesday on X. “His journey was just beginning, yet his spirit will live on, now he is reunited with his legendary father among the stars.”
“Our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones,” the WBA continued.
Gatti Jr. has since been mourned by fellow boxers on social media, together with former light-heavyweight champion Jean Pascal and influencer Jake Paul. His longtime coach Moe Latif has reportedly requested folks to cease contacting him in regards to the loss.
“It is unfortunately not a rumor or a joke,” he wrote in an Instagram Story. “Arturo is gone.”
In the event you or somebody you understand wants assist, name or textual content 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for psychological well being help. Moreover, you will discover native psychological well being and disaster assets at dontcallthepolice.com. Outdoors of the U.S., please go to the Worldwide Affiliation for Suicide Prevention.
