Gatti retired from boxing in 2007

Former world boxing champion Arturo Gatti has been found dead in a hotel room in north east Brazil.

The Canadian's body was discovered on Saturday at a holiday resort where he had gone with his wife and son.

Italian-born Gatti, 37, was IBF super-featherweight champion in 1995 and WBC light-welterweight champion in 2004. He retired in 2007.

His three-fight series against Micky Ward in 2002 and 2003 established him as one of the most prominent fighters.

Police are understood to be considering foul play because of reported evidence of injuries to Gatti's head but the cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

"It is still too early to say anything concrete, although it is all very strange," police investigator Edilson Alves was quoted as saying.

A spokeswoman for the Pernambuco public safety department confirmed that Gatti's wife and one-year-old son were unhurt...

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