Arturo Gatti
Gatti on November 24, 2002
Statistics
Real name	Arturo Gatti
Nickname(s)	Thunder
Rated at	Super Featherweight Lightweight Light Welterweight Welterweight
Height	5 ft 7 1⁄2 in (1.71 m)
Reach	70 in (178 cm)
Nationality	Italian Canadian
Born	(1972-04-15)April 15, 1972 Cassino, Italy
Died	July 11, 2009(2009-07-11) (aged 37) Ipojuca, State of Pernambuco, Brazil
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	49
Wins	40
Wins by KO	31
Losses	9
Draws	0
No contests	0

Arturo "Thunder" Gatti (April 15, 1972 – July 11, 2009) was an Italian-Canadian professional boxer.^[1][2][3] Born in Cassino, Italy and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada,^[4] Gatti relocated to Jersey City, United States as a teenager. He returned to Montreal after retiring from boxing to work in real estate.^[5][6]

Gatti won world championships designated by two different boxing boards in two different weight classes. He also participated in 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.^[7][8]

Professional career[link]

Arturo Gatti was a member of the Canadian National team, and was training to represent Canada at the 1992 Summer Games, but at age 19 (in 1991), he decided to turn pro instead.^[2][9] He began boxing professionally on the night of November 17, 1992.

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.

In 1994, he beat Leon Bostic, and followed through with a win over Pete Taliaferro to win the USBA Super Featherweight title, by a knockout in round one. He retained the title against Richard Salazar and former world champion Jose Sanabria.

Signing with HBO[link]

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 narrowly outpointed Patterson (scoring: 116–111, 115–112, 114–113) and signed a multi-fight deal with HBO to fight on HBO Boxing.

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 Ring Magazine. 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.

In 1997, he again won a points victory over Patterson, but this time by a larger margin (118–108, 117–109, 116–110). 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 Ring Magazine. Rocked by a left uppercut in the fourth, Gatti absorbed more than 15 consecutive punches before being saved by the bell. In the fifth, he connected on a left hook to knock Ruelas out.

To the lightweight division[link]

After that fight, Gatti relinquished the world title, going up in weight to the lightweight division. However, 1998 was a bad year for Gatti, 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 only ahead by one point on two scorecards.^[10] Gatti-Robinson I was chosen "Fight of the Year" by Ring Magazine, 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.

He only had one fight in 1999, knocking out Reyes Munoz in round one.

Controversial fight against Gamache[link]

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.^[11] 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.

Gatti also won his two other fights that year.

Trilogy against Micky Ward[link]

Gatti at the post-fight press conference on June 7, 2003

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. In 2002, Gatti returned to the light welterweight division and defeated former world champion Terronn Millett by a knockout in round four.

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.

On June 7, 2003, he and Ward had a rubber match. Gatti broke his twice-repaired right hand on an uppercut to the hip in the fourth, and he dropped his arm. In the sixth, Gatti dominated the round but got caught with an overhand right to the top of the head a second before the bell rang and went down. The final scorecards read, 96–93, 96–93 and 97–92, in favor of Gatti. The third fight between the two was again named "Fight of the Year" by Ring Magazine.

Career after Micky Ward[link]

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.

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.

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. That same night, Arturo's protege, Danny "Little Mac" McDermott, won his pro debut.

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.

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.

On July 22, 2006, Gatti lost by a TKO to Carlos Baldomir, vying for the WBC & The Ring Welterweight Championship. He then broke off his relationship with Buddy McGirt and had a new trainer in Micky Ward.

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'll be back — as a spectator."

Professional boxing record[link]

40 Wins (31 knockouts, 9 decisions), 9 Losses (5 knockouts, 4 decisions), 0 Draws[12]
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	40–9	Alfonso Gomez	TKO	7 (10)	2007-07-14	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss	40–8	Carlos Baldomir	TKO	9 (12)	2006-07-22	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Lost IBA Welterweight title. For WBC & The Ring Welterweight titles.
Win	40–7	Thomas Damgaard	TKO	11 (12)	2006-01-28	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Won vacant IBA Welterweight title.
Loss	39–7	Floyd Mayweather Jr.	RTD	6 (12)	2005-06-25	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Lost WBC Light Welterweight title.
Win	39–6	Jesse James Leija	KO	5 (12)	2005-01-29	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Retained WBC Light Welterweight title.
Win	38–6	Leonard Dorin	KO	2 (12)	2004-07-24	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Retained WBC Light Welterweight title.
Win	37–6	Gianluca Branco	UD	12	2004-01-24	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Won vacant WBC Light Welterweight title.
Win	36–6	Micky Ward	UD	10	2003-06-07	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	2003 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.
Win	35–6	Micky Ward	UD	10	2002-11-23	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss	34–6	Micky Ward	MD	10	2002-05-18	Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut	2002 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.
Win	34–5	Terron Millett	TKO	4 (10)	2002-01-26	MSG Theater, New York, New York
Loss	33–5	Oscar De La Hoya	TKO	5 (10)	2001-03-24	MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	33–4	Joe Hutchinson	UD	10	2000-09-08	Molson Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Win	32–4	Eric Jakubowski	TKO	2 (10)	2000-04-29	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win	31–4	Joey Gamache	KO	2 (10)	2000-02-26	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win	30–4	Reyes Munoz	TKO	1 (10)	1999-08-14	Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Loss	29–4	Ivan Robinson	UD	10	1998-12-12	Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss	29–3	Ivan Robinson	SD	10	1998-08-22	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	1998 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.
Loss	29–2	Angel Manfredy	TKO	8 (10)	1998-01-17	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	29–1	Gabriel Ruelas	TKO	5 (12)	1997-10-04	Caesar's Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Retained IBF Super Featherweight title. 1997 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.
Win	28–1	Calvin Grove	RTD	7 (10)	1997-05-04	Caesar's Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	27–1	Tracy Harris Patterson	UD	12	1997-02-22	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Retained IBF Super Featherweight title.
Win	26–1	Feliciano Correa	KO	3 (10)	1996-07-11	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win	25–1	Wilson Rodriguez	KO	6 (12)	1996-03-23	MSG Theater, New York, New York	Retained IBF Super Featherweight title.
Win	24–1	Tracy Harris Patterson	UD	12	1995-12-15	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York	Won IBF Super Featherweight title.
Win	23–1	Carlos Vergara	TKO	1 (10)	1995-10-07	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	22–1	Barrington Francis	TKO	6 (10)	1995-07-13	Caesar's Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	21–1	Tialano Tovar	KO	1 (10)	1995-04-22	Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	20–1	Roman Smolenkov	KO	1 (?)	1995-03-09	Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands
Win	19–1	Jose Sanabria	UD	12	1994-11-22	Meadowlands Convention Center, Secaucus, New Jersey	Retained USBA Super Featherweight title.
Win	18–1	Richard Salazar	TKO	10 (12)	1994-08-16	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York	Retained USBA Super Featherweight Title.
Win	17–1	Pete Taliaferro	TKO	1 (12)	1994-06-28	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Won USBA Super Featherweight title.
Win	16–1	Darrell Singleton	TKO	1 (8)	1994-05-06	Boardwalk Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	15–1	Leon Bostic	PTS	8	1994-01-08	Friar Tuck Inn, Catskill, New York
Win	14–1	Glenn Irizarry	TKO	1 (?)	1993-11-11	Huntington Hilton Hotel, Melville, New York
Win	13–1	Derek Francis	KO	1 (?)	1993-10-23	Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	12–1	Luis Guzman	KO	1 (?)	1993-08-24	Merv Griffin's Resorts, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	11–1	Robert Scott	KO	1 (?)	1993-07-30	Ramada Hotel, New York, New York
Win	10–1	Christino Suero	KO	3 (8)	1993-06-20	Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	9–1	Clifford Hicks	KO	3 (?)	1993-05-15	Memorial Highshool Gym, Brick Town, New Jersey
Win	8–1	Curtis Mathis	TKO	3 (?)	1993-04-07	Newark, New Jersey
Win	7–1	Plamen Gechev	TKO	1 (?)	1993-03-23	Merv Griffin's Resorts, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Loss	6–1	King Solomon	SD	6	1992-11-17	Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win	6–0	Joe Lafontant	UD	6	1992-05-15	Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	5–0	Antonio Gonzalez	TKO	1 (4)	1992-04-22	Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Win	4–0	Francisco Aguiano	TKO	1 (?)	1991-10-22	Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win	3–0	Richard De Jesus	TKO	1 (4)	1991-08-02	Quality Inn Hotel, Newark, New Jersey
Win	2–0	Luis Melendez	KO	1 (4)	1991-07-09	Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniA
Win	1–0	Jose Gonzales	TKO	3 (4)	1991-06-10	Meadowlands Convention Center, Secaucus, New Jersey	Gatti's professional debut.

Titles in boxing[link]

Major World Titles:

• IBF Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs)
• WBC Light Welterweight Champion (140 lbs)

Minor World Titles:

• IBA Welterweight Champion (147 lbs)

Regional/International Titles:

• USBA Super Featherweight Champion (130 lbs)

Post-career[link]

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 Decarie (now 25–1), the Canadian and North American Boxing Organization Champion.^[13]

Death[link]

On July 11, 2009, Gatti was found dead in a hotel in Ipojuca, Pernambuco, Brazil, where he was on vacation with his Brazilian wife, Amanda Rodrigues, and their 10 month old son.^[6][7][14] He was 37 years old. Gatti's widow was charged with first degree murder after the strap of her purse was found stained with blood. Gatti was to attend his sister's wedding the same day.^[15] Rodrigues could not explain how she spent more than 10 hours in the hotel room without realizing Gatti was dead. Former boxing champion Acelino Freitas, who was a close friend of Gatti, claimed Gatti and Rodrigues were having problems and were about to separate.^[16] On July 30, 2009, it was reported that the Brazilian police ruled Gatti's death as a suicide and his widow was released.^[17][18] However, 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 has also confirmed that there would be a second autopsy done in Quebec.^[19] On August 1, a pathologist hired by the ex-boxing champ's family said Brazilian authorities overlooked bruises on Gatti's body in the initial autopsy. Montreal medical examiners will perform further toxicology tests in Canada and are also awaiting more information on the scene of death from investigators in Brazil. "There were definite injuries that had not been seen by Brazilian authorities," Baden said.^[20]

The Brazilian authorities initially ruled Gatti's death a homicide, but further studies revealed it was a suicide.^[21] Yet, almost a year later, in March 2010, the circumstances concerning Gatti's death remain unclear.^[22] All the reports are now at the Quebec coroner's office awaiting further investigation. Coroner Jean Brochu said, "We've been waiting for this for a long time," and "it's going to take a while" before conclusions can be made, and released to the public.^[22] A shortage of staff at the coroner's office is being blamed for contributing to the delay of the investigation.^[22] Regarding a new toxicology report being prepared, Brochu quipped that it "may take a century to get the results"."^[22]

On August 23, 2011, it was reported that private investigators had concluded that Gatti's death was indeed a homicide.^[23]

In popular culture[link]

• Australian hardcore band Toe to Toe named their 2010 album Arturo Gatti.^[24]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• BoxingInsider.com Bio - file Q&A with Arturo 'Thunder' Gatti
• Breaking News: Arturo "Thunder" Gatti found dead in Brazil early this morning
• Arturo Gatti Grave @ Findagrave
• Arturo Gatti Fight-by-Fight Career Record
• Professional boxing record for Arturo Gatti from BoxRec
• boxen-artur.de – Encyclopedia
• Coverage of Gatti's final match
• Dorisol Hotel in Porto de Galinhas (place of death) - Official page

Further reading[link]

Cooley, Will. "'Vanilla Thrillas': Modern Boxing and White-Ethnic Masculinity," Journal of Sport and Social Issues 34:4 (November, 2010), 418-437.