The late Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was enshrined into the International Boxing Hall of Fame this past weekend in Canastota, New York. He goes into the Boxing Hall of Fame not for being the most skilled fighter of his era, but as promoter Lou DiBella said as “the most exciting fighter of his generation; he captivated people; he had a warrior spirit in the ring.”

Mike Tyson http://miketyson.com/ met Gatti when he was only ten years old. “I remember him being so determined and so hungry,” said Tyson. “He wanted to be a champion so bad.”

Gatti, a regular attendee at various New York City nightclubs and friend of http://bouncerchronicles.com/  Bouncer Chronicles, became a three-time world champion who amassed a professional record of forty victories and only nine defeats with thirty one knockouts. He retired in 2007 at the age of thirty five. His good looks and toe to toe brawling generated a huge following that sold out crowds at both Madison Square Garden and Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

His legendary three fights with Irishman Mickey Ward are considered by many as one of the best boxing trilogies next to Ali/Frazier.

Gatti died on July 11, 2009 in a Brazilian beachfront condominium where he was on vacation with his wife Amanda Rodrigues. His death was initially ruled a homicide and Rodrigues was arrested. Three weeks later after an autopsy was performed Rodrigues was released. It was ruled Gatti 37 committed suicide by hanging himself from the stairs with his wife’s purse strap.

People in Gatti’s camp believe the Hall of Fame boxer was murdered.