New York, NY (Sports Network) - The wife of former world boxing champion Arturo "Thunder" Gatti has reportedly been charged with the boxer's death.
According to the New York Daily News, 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues was arrested and charged with her's husband's murder on Sunday, one day after Gatti was found dead inside a beach flat he was renting in northeastern Brazil.
It was earlier reported that Gatti was on a second honeymoon in Porto de Galinhas with Rodrigues and the couple's infant son when his blood-stained body was found inside the apartment. Brazilian police said Sunday that Rodrigues used the strap of her purse to strangle Gatti while he slept.
Gatti, who finished with a record of 40-9 with 31 knockouts, was 37. He was born in Italy but was raised in Montreal and became a world champion in two weight divisions over a 16-year career. Gatti retired in 2007 after losing his last two fights - to Carlos Baldomir and Alfonso Gomez.
Noted for his classic three-fight epic series against Micky Ward in 2002-03, Gatti won his first title in 1995 by beating Tracy Harris Patterson for the IBF super featherweight title. He captured the vacant WBC light welterweight title in 2004 with a win over Gianluca Branco.