( CNN ) -- Brazilian authorities detained the wife of former world boxing champion Arturo Gatti as a suspect in his killing , according to local reports . Arturo Gatti pictured during the final fight of his career , a knockout defeat by Alfonso Gomez in 2007 . Gatti was found dead Saturday in a hotel in Brazil , where he was taking a vacation with his wife , Amanda Carina Barbosa Rodrigues , and their young child . The 37-year-old Canadian , who was born in Italy and made his name as a fighter based in New Jersey , was staying in the northeast seaside resort of Porto de Galihnas . Rodrigues , 23 , was being held in a police station in the city of Recife in connection with the killing , a police official in Porto de Galihnas told CNN . Police official Osmar Silva Santiago confirmed local reports that Gatti 's body was found Saturday morning in his hotel room with strangulation marks . `` This crime is being investigated by our homicide experts and we hope to have more answers tomorrow , '' Santiago said . Police recovered a blood-stained purse strap from the scene , according to media reports . Rodrigues became a suspect because of inconsistencies during her interrogation , local reports quoted homicide task force chief Josedith Ferreira as saying . Gatti made his name in a series of three fights against `` Irish '' Micky Ward , losing the first but triumphing in the other two . He held the IBF super-featherweight and WBC light-welterweight titles , and he also won the WBC junior welterweight belt but lost it to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2005 . Gatti retired in 2007 after suffering a knockout defeat by Alfonso Gomez in his comeback , ending with a record of 40 wins and nine losses . He grew up in Montreal , Quebec , after leaving Italy at an early age , and returned to the city following his retirement . According to Gatti 's official Web site , the Italian-born pugilist won `` Fight of the Year '' for three consecutive years . CNN 's Helena de Moura contributed to this report .
NEW : Wife , Amanda de Barbosa Rodrigues , detained at Recife police station . Note : Rodrigues ' answers to interrogation reportedly had changed . NEW : Gatti 's body was found Saturday in hotel room with strangulation marks . The former world boxing champion was vacationing with his year - old daughter .