Arturo Gatti, 37, was found dead early on Saturday morning in an apartment that the couple had rented at the Porto de Galinhas beach resort, near Recife in northern Brazil. A police spokeswoman said it appeared that Gatti had been strangled with the strap of a handbag and had sustained a head injury. The bloodstained strap was found in the apartment.

Gatti, known as “Thunder”, was one of the most exciting fighters of his generation. Born in Italy, he was a naturalised Canadian and grew up in Montreal. He started his career in 1991 and defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in 1995 to become IBF Junior Lightweight Champion. In 2004 he won the WBC Junior Welterweight title — a title he defended twice before losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2005.

I have been a fan of Arturo since the 90′s when I saw him get beaten to a pulp but never top swinging.  His attitude of `defence goes around the house’ made sure that it was always going to be an exciting fight.  Not to mention his ability to put on 20 pounds between weigh in an fight that helped put an opponent in hospital.
He will always be remembered as being part of the Gatti-Ward trilogy.  2 fighters who fought to the death in 3 matches, 2 of which were classed as fight of the year by Ring magazine.

Watch this to get an idea of the greatness of the man

Arturo Gatti, RIP, you have earned it.