Arturo Gatti Jr's death 'being investigated as a homicide,' boxing legend's family claims in major twist

The family of late boxing prodigy Arturo Gatti Jr claims his death is now being 'investigated as a homicide' in a shocking twist.

The 17-year-old, the son of Canadian boxing legend Arturo Gatti, was reportedly found hanged in a Mexico apartment earlier this month.

His death came a little over 16 years since his father's own mysterious death. As the Daily Mail recalled, the death of Arturo Gatti Sr. remains a topic of fierce controversy. He was found dead while on vacation with his son and wife Amanda Rodrigues back in July 2009.

Now Sofia Gatti, the sister of Arturo Jr, has released a statement claiming that the family has 'received documentation from authorities indicating the case is being investigated as a homicide.'

'I want to thank everyone who has supported the ongoing effort to uncover the truth about my brother, Arturo Gatti Jr.’s death,' Sofia wrote on a GoFundMe page which has raised more than $25,000 in donations.

Sofia revealed that 'legal and investigative steps have been taken' in Mexico, Canada and the United States as the family seeks the 'truth' and 'justice for Arturo.'

'Family representatives and legal counsel have filed for the preservation of Arturo’s remains, secured investigative access, and initiated forensic reviews,' the statement continued.

'Expenses so far have included attorney retainers, document requests, travel to Mexico for official filings, and the initial funding of an independent investigative team in the US with international criminal case experience.

'The next stage requires approximately $16,000 USD to continue vital legal and forensic work — including expanded toxicology, fingerprint testing, and expert consultations — ensuring the case advances through the proper judicial process.

'Every contribution helps maintain transparency and accountability while allowing the family to pursue truth, integrity, and justice for Arturo. Our long-term goal is to unify all legal efforts across the countries involved, ensuring a clear and coordinated path toward justice.'

Versace Gatti, who is said to be a cousin of Arturo Jr, also shared the statement on Instagram. She added in a further post: 'You were taken from us to [sic] soon like your father was from us. You didn't deserve this, you were just a baby. I won't rest until justice is served and you can finally rest in peace.'

According to French-speaking Canadian network TVA Nouvelles, the teenager was in Mexico with his mother, Amanda Rodrigues, before his shock passing. He was reportedly found dead by a neighbor.

Chuck Zito, who served as close friend Gatti's bodyguard throughout his career, was first to share the devastating news.

Arturo Jr was aiming to follow in his dad's footsteps and carve out a boxing career of his own. He first laced up a pair of gloves at the age of six and went on to enjoy several amateur bouts.

The young prodigy, who shared a close relationship with Mike Tyson, was expected to one day turn professional.

He was born just 10 months before his dad's infamous passing out in Brazil. Gatti's body was discovered in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor of a condo they had rented in the northeastern resort town Porto de Galinhas, with his head partially under a counter and a small purse strap nearby. 

He was battered and bruised on his body and had a deep ligature mark beneath his chin, with his tongue left hanging from his discolored face and his right ear engorged. He also had a three-centimeter-long gash crusted with coagulated blood on the back of his head. 

Rodrigues was arrested on suspicion of murder 24 hours after she claimed to have discovered his body. She was eventually released from prison 18 days later as authorities ultimately ruled it as suicide by hanging.

Many of Gatti's close family and friends still refuse to buy into the theory that he died by suicide. An initial toxicology report carried out by Brazilian officials showed no drug activity in his body, while there was no evidence of late-stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head.

When authorities concluded that Rodrigues was not involved in her husband’s death, Gatti's former manager and confidante Pat Lynch - whom he considered a 'surrogate father' - sought the help of a powerful team of private investigators, law enforcement and medical experts to get to the bottom of what truly happened on July 11. 

In September 2011, the team made their report public after concluding that he was 'rendered unconscious with an unknown object, and then manually strangled with the purse strap or a similar device.'

'Death would have been by ligature strangulation, with blunt force head injury,' their closing argument read. 'Amanda Gatti, either alone or with assistance from an unknown person or persons, had the opportunity, means and motive to murder her husband.' 

The investigators also revealed that Gatti had signed a new life-insurance policy which left his entire $3.4million fortune to his wife and her family just one month before his death, despite telling those closest to him that he was planning to file for divorce and end a marriage they said had become truly toxic. Rodrigues was believed to be present when the policy was changed.

Yet two months after they released their findings, a Quebec coroner ruled there was no 'hard evidence' that Gatti's death was caused by 'foul play' or suicide after a separate investigation was carried out by Montreal pathologists.

The coroner, Jean Brochu, said initial missteps from the Brazilian authorities made it too difficult to conclude with absolute certainty what happened on the night of July 11, 2009, despite stating that Gatti had died a 'violent death.' The probable cause of death was listed as asphyxiation by neck constriction.

'Me knowing him better than anybody in his adult life, you'll never convince me that he committed suicide that night in Brazil. You'll never convince me of that,' Lynch told the Daily Mail.

'I really don't know [who killed him], I just know in my heart that he really didn't commit suicide.'