Arturo Gatti
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox boxer Arturo Gatti (April 15, 1972 – July 11, 2009) was a Canadian professional boxer who competed from 1991 to 2007.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name="tsn01">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
A world champion in two weight classes, Gatti held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior lightweight title from 1995 to 1998, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight title from 2004 to 2005. He also participated in The Ring magazine's Fight of the Year a total of four times (1997, 1998, 2002, and 2003). He announced his retirement on July 14, 2007.<ref name="cbc01">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>The Other Fighter: Remembering Arturo "Thunder" Gatti Template:Webarchive</ref> After his death in 2009, Gatti was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on December 10, 2012, in his first year of eligibility, becoming the tenth Canadian boxer to be so inducted.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gatti was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.<ref name="Dernier-Round">Template:Cite book</ref> He is the younger brother of ex-professional boxer Joe Gatti. Gatti eventually relocated to Jersey City, New Jersey, as a teenager where he found a manager he trusted and decided to turn pro. He returned to Montreal after retiring from boxing to work in real estate.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="espn01">Template:Cite web</ref>
He died under mysterious circumstances in 2009. His Brazilian wife was arrested for his homicide, then released after an autopsy done in Brazil ruled his death was a suicide. Subsequent American and Canadian investigations could not agree on Gatti's cause of death<ref name="cbc-coroner" /> and discovered a history of suicidal ideation.<ref name="cbc-fifth">Template:Cite news</ref> In October 2025, his son, Arturo Gatti Jr., also committed suicide by hanging at age 17.
Amateur career
Growing up in Canada, Gatti had a decorated amateur career, winning two national junior championships as well as three Canadian Golden Gloves tournaments in three different weight categories. In 1986, he qualified for the International Youth Tournament but lost to Irish representative Wayne McCulloch. In 1990, Gatti joined the Canadian national team. That October, he competed in the World Youth Championship in Lima but was eliminated in the first round by a boxer from Puerto Rico. He finished his amateur career with a record of 86–14.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Professional career
Arturo Gatti was a member of the Canadian National team, and was training to represent Canada at the 1992 Summer Games, but in 1991, at age 19, he decided to turn pro instead.<ref name="tsn01"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He began boxing professionally on the night of June 10, 1991, with a third-round knockout of Jose Gonzalez in Secaucus, New Jersey. He went undefeated for six bouts before losing to King Solomon by split decision in six rounds on November 17, 1992.<ref name="rtubagw">Template:Cite news</ref>
His next fight, on March 24, 1993, was his first fight abroad, where he visited Amsterdam, Netherlands, and knocked out Plawen Goutchev in round one.<ref name="rtubagw"/>
In 1994, he beat Leon Bostic, and followed through with a Round 1 knockout over Pete Taliaferro to win the USBA super featherweight title. He retained the title against Richard Salazar and former world champion Jose Sanabria.<ref name="rtubagw"/>
Signing with HBO
On December 15, 1995, Gatti challenged the IBF super featherweight Champion Tracy Harris Patterson, Floyd Patterson's adoptive son. Gatti became world champion when he outpointed Patterson (scoring: 116–111, 115–112, 114–113) and signed a multi-fight deal with HBO to fight on HBO Boxing.<ref name="ttmgr">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
He only had two fights in 1996, once defending his world title. His title defense, at Madison Square Garden against Dominican Wilson Rodriguez was the first of three Gatti fights in a row to be named a candidate for "Fight of the Year" by The Ring. Dropped in round two and with his right eye closing fast, Gatti knocked Rodriguez down in round five with a left hook to the body, before finishing him off in round six to retain the title.<ref name="ttmgr"/>
In 1997, he again won a points victory over Patterson, but this time by a larger margin (118–108, 117–109, 116–110).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He then scored a technical knockout over former world champion Calvin Grove in the seventh round of a non-title affair. Then came his defense against former world champion Gabriel Ruelas, which was also named "Fight of the Year" by The Ring. Rocked by a left uppercut in the fourth, Gatti absorbed more than 15 consecutive punches before being saved by the bell. In the fifth, with Ruelas again the aggressor and looking close to victory, Gatti connected with a left hook that lifted Ruelas off the canvas and resulted in the knock out.<ref name="agcfbl">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His knockout over Ruelas was later awarded The Ring Knockout of the Year.
To the lightweight division
After that fight, Gatti relinquished the world title, going up in weight to the lightweight division. However, 1998 was a bad year for him, as he lost all three of his fights that year. He lost by a technical knockout in round eight to Angel Manfredy, and then lost a pair of close 10-round decisions to Ivan Robinson, the first by split decision, the second by unanimous. In Gatti–Robinson II, Gatti had a point deducted in the eighth round for low blows. Had the point not been deducted, the fight would have been a draw, as Robinson was ahead by only one point on two scorecards. Gatti–Robinson I was chosen "Fight of the Year" by The Ring, thus marking the second year in a row that a Gatti fight was given that award and the third year in a row a Gatti fight was nominated.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
He only had one fight in 1999, knocking out Reyes Munoz in round one.<ref name="rtubagw"/>
Controversial fight against Gamache
Gatti's first fight of 2000 proved to be controversial. Faced with former world champion Joey Gamache, Gatti won by a knockout in round two. A subsequent lawsuit by Gamache's handlers claimed Gatti had gained 19 pounds since the weigh-in the day before and thus had a large advantage over Gamache.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the wake of the fight, boxing regulators pushed for a new law limiting the amount of weight a competitor can gain between the weigh-in and time of the fight. Gatti was also accused by Gamache's handlers of not having actually made the contracted weight of 141 pounds. After Gatti–Gamache, some boxing commissions started weighing boxers a second time.<ref name="agcfbl"/>
Gatti also won his two other fights that year, against Eric Jukabuwski and Joe Hutchinson.<ref name="rtubagw"/>
Fight against De La Hoya and trilogy against Micky Ward
In 2001, Gatti only had one fight, going up in weight to meet welterweight Oscar De La Hoya, who beat him by a technical knockout in five rounds.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2002, Gatti returned to the light welterweight division and defeated former world champion Terronn Millett by a knockout in round four.<ref name="ttmgr"/>
He then split two ten-round decisions with "Irish" Micky Ward, losing their first bout, but winning their second. Gatti-Ward I also earned "Fight of the Year" honors by Ring Magazine, and the 9th round was called the Round of the Century by Emanuel Steward.<ref name=er>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Gatti's first bout Vs Ward is viewed as one of the greatest in boxing history by writers and fans alike.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It has since been referred to as the “fight of the century” and won both The Ring Magazines fight of the year and the BWAA Fight of the Year.<ref name=er/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gatti was also awarded The Ring Magazine Comeback of the Year for his career resurgence in 2002.
On June 7, 2003, he and Ward had a rubber match. Gatti broke his twice-repaired right hand when he struck Ward's hip bone with an attempted body shot in the fourth, and he dropped his arm. In the sixth, Gatti dominated the round, but got caught with an overhand to the top of the head a second before the bell rang and went down. Gatti would win the match by unanimous decision. The third fight between the two was again named "Fight of the Year" by Ring Magazine.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Gatti vs Ward I & III are also part of HBO's 10 best fights of the decade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The trilogy is often regarded as one of the greatest in all of boxing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career after Micky Ward
Template:Main On January 24, 2004, Gatti, having recovered from a broken hand, scored a tenth round knock-down and defeated Gianluca Branco of Italy by a 12-round unanimous decision to win the vacant WBC light welterweight title.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On July 24, 2004, he knocked out the previously unbeaten former world champion Leonard Dorin Doroftei in two rounds at Atlantic City, to retain his title.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Gatti's second defense of his WBC title came against former WBC super featherweight Champion Jesse James Leija on January 29, 2005. Gatti beat Leija by a fifth-round knockout.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gatti's protege, Danny "Little Mac" McDermott made his professional debut on the undercard with a victory over Alex Matos.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In his next fight, Gatti fought former super featherweight and lightweight world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. on June 25, 2005. He took a horrific beating and Gatti's corner man threw in the towel after he was beaten around the ring, thus ending his title reign via sixth-round technical knockout.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
After the loss to Mayweather, Gatti moved up to the welterweight division. He beat Thomas Damgaard on January 28, 2006, by an eleventh-round technical knockout to win the vacant IBA welterweight title and become a champion in 3 different weight divisions.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On July 22, 2006, Gatti lost by a TKO to Carlos Baldomir, vying for the WBC & The Ring welterweight championship.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He then broke off his relationship with Buddy McGirt and had a new trainer in Micky Ward.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Final fight and retirement
Template:Main Gatti attempted a comeback on July 14, 2007, against Alfonso Gomez, only to get TKO'd by Gomez. After the fight, Gatti announced his retirement in the dressing room, reportedly quipping: "I'm coming back — as a spectator."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Gatti retired with a record of 40 wins and 9 losses, with 31 wins by knockout. On September 24, 2008, reports had surfaced that Gatti was considering a comeback against Montreal welterweight Antonin Décarie, the Canadian and North American Boxing Organization champion. On December 10, 2012, he was voted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Fighting style
Arturo was an aggressive, all-action fighter, often remembered as a slugger. Early on in his career, Gatti showed his tremendous punching power as he amassed a large number of first-round knockouts. Although he had the ability to box many opponents (as shown in the second Micky Ward fight) Gatti would often get into brawls when his opponents were able to take the power and fight back. This is why many of his bouts against good opposition were slug-fests.
Gatti had incredible heart, and a very good chin, shown in the majority of his major fights. He was able to absorb incredible amounts of punishment by fighters such as Wilson Rodriguez, Gabriel Ruelas, Angel Manfredy, Ivan Robinson, Oscar De La Hoya, Micky Ward, Floyd Mayweather and Carlos Baldomir, none of whom could knock him out cold. In his first title defence against Wilson Rodriguez at Madison Square Garden he showed off his recuperative abilities as he was close to being stopped under a barrage of shots and in the next round he stopped his opponent.<ref name="rtubagw"/>
Even though he was often described as a slugger and a "brawler," Gatti also possessed good boxing skills, including a strong jab and the ability to box off his back foot.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Due to Gatti's entertaining style he earned the nickname “The Human Highlight Reel.”<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Oscar De La Hoya, who faced many big punchers from 130 pounds to 160 pounds, says Gatti hit him the hardest out of any fighter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Death
On July 11, 2009, Gatti was found dead in a hotel in Ipojuca, Pernambuco, Brazil, where he was on holiday with his Brazilian wife, Amanda Rodrigues, and their 10-month-old son.<ref name="cbc01"/><ref name="espn01"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was 37 years old. Gatti's wife was initially charged with murder after Brazilian authorities ruled Gatti's death a homicide, but after the coroner's autopsy report was released, they declared it was a suicide by hanging, and charges against his widow were dropped.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Gatti had a history of suicidal threats and had previously attempted suicide in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gatti's funeral was held on July 20, 2009; about 1,000 mourners filed into Our Lady of Defence Church in Montreal's Little Italy, and he was buried in a crypt in Laval Cemetery in Quebec.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The WBC also presented Gatti's mother with a posthumous championship belt.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There were many other tributes made by members of the boxing world in Gatti's honor, along with a public memorial in New Jersey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On July 31, 2009, it was announced that the Canadian government would be seeking more information from the Brazilian authorities on Gatti's death. Gatti's family confirmed that there would be a second autopsy done in Quebec.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Two independent investigators hired by Gatti's longtime manager Pat Lynch released a statement in September 2011 that they believed Gatti was murdered. A contributing factor to their conclusion was an injury to the back of Gatti's head that they believed could not have been self inflicted.<ref name="espn-investigation">Template:Cite web</ref> After receiving the independent investigators' findings, Brazilian authorities again concluded that Gatti died by suicide.
At the family's request, a Quebec coroner agreed to exhume the body so that two pathologists could conduct a second autopsy. After an autopsy, the pathologists ruled there was "no clear evidence of foul play" and expressed doubt at the conclusions reached by the private investigators hired by Gatti's manager.<ref name="cbc-coroner">Template:Cite web</ref> CBC's The Fifth Estate and HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel both interviewed witnesses who stated Gatti assaulted his wife in public the night before his death and that the injuries to the back of his head came as result of Gatti fighting with a passer-by who attempted to intervene.<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref>
Titles in boxing
Major world titles
- IBF junior lightweight champion (130 pounds)
- WBC super lightweight champion (140 pounds)
Minor world titles
- IBA welterweight champion (140 pounds)
Regional titles
- USBA junior lightweight champion (130 pounds)
Awards and achievements
Fights of the year
- 1997The Ring Fight of the Year vs. Gabriel Ruelas
- 1998 The Ring Fight of the Year vs. Ivan Robinson
- 2002 The Ring Fight of the Year vs. Micky Ward
- 2002 BWAA Fight of the Year vs. Micky Ward
- 2003 The Ring Fight of the Year vs. Micky Ward III
Other Awards
- Inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 1997 The Ring Knockout of the Year vs. Gabriel Ruelas
- 2002 The Ring Comeback of the Year
- 2002 The Ring magazine Round of the Year Round 9 vs. Micky Ward
- 2002 USA Today's Round of the year Round 9 vs. Micky Ward
- Inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame on December 10, 2012, in his first year of eligibility.
- Inducted into the National Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
Gatti was married twice. He had a daughter from his first marriage and a son with his second wife.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His son, Arturo Gatti Jr., followed in his footsteps and competed at amateur level with plans to turn professional but died at just 17 years old with his body discovered hung from an apartment in Mexico on 7th October 2025.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
After he retired in 2007, Gatti returned to Montreal, Canada, and got involved in real estate/property development.<ref name=":0" />
Gatti was born in Montreal, Quebec, where he fought his entire amateur career. He later relocated to New Jersey to begin his professional career. His brother, Joe, was also a professional boxer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gatti's family is of Italian ancestry.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gatti developed a strong friendship with his former opponent Micky Ward. The two often went out to dinner together and played golf.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After Gatti's death, Ward stated “a big part of me is gone.”<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In popular culture
In 2013, HBO released a one-hour documentary, The Tale of Gatti-Ward, as part of its Legendary Nights series. The film highlighted Gatti's iconic trilogy with Micky Ward and the friendship that followed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2016, Dennis Taylor and John Raspanti published the book Intimate Warfare, which chronicled Gatti's trilogy of fights with Ward and the bond the two men later formed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2023, a three-part true crime documentary titled Thunder: The Life and Death of Arturo Gatti was released. It explored Gatti's life and boxing career while also investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. The series won Best Documentary Series at that year's Alberta Film and Television Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Video games
The game Fight Night Round 3 (2006) features Ward and Gatti on the cover (PS2 and Xbox versions only).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Fight Night 2004 | Playable character |
| 2005 | Fight Night Round 2 | Playable character |
| 2006 | Fight Night Round 3 | Playable character |
| 2009 | Fight Night Round 4 | Playable character |
| 2023 | Undisputed | Playable character |
Professional boxing record
Pay-per-view bouts
| Date | Fight | Billing | Buys | Network | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Center | Gatti vs. Mayweather | Thunder & Lightning | 340,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | HBO | $16,500,000 |
References
Further reading
- Cooley, Will. "'Vanilla Thrillas': Modern Boxing and White-Ethnic Masculinity", Journal of Sport and Social Issues 34:4 (November 2010), 418-437.
- Raspanti, John J. and Taylor, Dennis. "Intimate Warfare: The True Story of the Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward Boxing Trilogy" [Rowman and Littlefield], (2016.) Template:ISBN
External links
Template:Commons category Template:Wikiquote
- Arturo Gatti Q&A at BoxingInsider
- Template:Find a Grave
- Arturo Gatti profile Template:Webarchive at About.com
- Official website (archived)
- Template:Boxrec
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- 1972 births
- 2009 deaths
- 2009 suicides
- Canadian sportspeople of Italian descent
- Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- Canadian male boxers
- Boxers from Montreal
- Deaths from asphyxiation
- International Boxing Federation champions
- International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees
- Welterweight boxers
- World Boxing Council champions
- World light-welterweight boxing champions
- World super-featherweight boxing champions
- 20th-century Canadian sportsmen