Arturo Gatti's life and career

Arturo Gatti in his pro boxing debut. Over his career he won 40 fights; 31 by knockout. His relentlessness in the ring made Arturo a crowd favorite.

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

"Arturo was special.

The Ward-Gatti trilogy would become the stuff of boxing lore. "Irish" Micky Ward won the first fight; Arturo Gatti took the second, shown here on Nov. 23, 2002. Gatti won the their third bout with a broken hand. Their first and third fights were named "fight of the year" by Ring Magazine.

Video: Micky Ward and Gatti's friendship
"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward's third and final fight. "Arturo Gatti

"He was my dancing partner in the ring... And-- it's just a shame that, you know, that my dancin' partner's gone," Micky Ward told "48 Hours Mystery."

Video: Micky Ward and Gatti's friendship
"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

"They made a movie about me

Arturo Gatti won 40 fights

Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti. "I had three amazing fights with Arturo Gatti and in doing that became a very good friend

Arturo Gatti, left, and Micky Ward hold up a painting in which they are the subject, at Ward's retirement dinner on Aug. 15, 2003.

Video: Micky Ward and Gatti's friendship
"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

"Irish" Micky Ward says the battles he fought in the ring with Gatti brought out the best in both of them. Here they are shown at Ward's 2003 retirement dinner.

Video: Micky Ward and Gatti's friendship
"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

Arturo Gatti following his fifth round knockout of former world junior lightweight champion Jesse James Leija on Jan. 29, 2005. By late 2006, Arturo had been crowned welterweight champion and amassed a multimillion-dollar fortune.

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti and the Gatti vs. Gomez press conference on May 22, 2007 — Tom Casino

In July 2007, Arturo Gatti, now 35 and plagued by injuries, faced a much younger Alfonso Gomez. It would be Arturo's last professional fight. Here Gatti is shown with Micky Ward at the Gatti vs. Gomez press conference on May 22, 2007.

Video: Micky Ward and Gatti's friendship
"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

Gatti-with-his-mother,-step.jpg — Tom Casino

Arturo Gatti, center, pictured with his family. From left, his mother, step-father, sister and brother in law.

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

Arturo Gatti at his New Jersey home with his dog, Hex. Retirement from boxing would hit Arturo Gatti hard. According to Tom Casino, "He partied like he fought

In 2006, after almost two decades in the ring, Arturo met Amanda Rodrigues, then a struggling Brazilian immigrant In 2007, one month after Arturo walked out of the ring for the last time, he married 21-year-old Amanda at the Grand Canyon.

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

Arturo and Amanda Gatti following their wedding at the Grand Canyon in 2007.

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

Amanda says Arturo was talking about starting a family as soon as they were married. Arturo had a daughter from a previous relationship.

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

Arturo Gatti with his newborn son, Arturo Jr. — Amanda Gatti

About a year after his wedding to Amanda, she gave Arturo the baby boy he's always wanted. Here he holds his newborn son, Arturo Jr.

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

"His son meant the world to him," Tom Casino told "48 Hours Mystery." "If you didn't know that Arturo Gatti's son meant the world to him, you didn't know Arturo Gatti."

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

At Arturo Gatti Jr.'s christening.

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

Arturo and Amanda Gatti with son, Arturo Jr.

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

Arturo Gatti and his namesake with matching hairstyles. "The smile is the same

Arturo and Amanda on their second honeymoon in Europe. — Amanda Gatti

Arturo and Amanda Gatti on their second honeymoon in Europe in June 2009. They would spend two weeks in Europe, and then fly to Brazil -- a trip from which Arturo would never return. In July 2009, he was found dead in their hotel room in Brazil. Amanda was arrested for murder, but was freed three weeks later after an autopsy by Brazilian investigators concluded Arturo had hung himself. The question over how he died is of debate.

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight

Amanda Gatti with Arturo Jr. "He's everything I asked God for," Amanda told "48 Hours Mystery" correspondent Erin Moriarty in her first American television interview. "Junior makes me complete."

"48 Hours Mystery": Arturo Gatti's Last Fight