Edwin Valero: 4th Suicide in Boxing World

Undefeated lightweight, Edwin Valero, committed suicide in a jail cell on the morning of April 19, 2010, by using his own clothes to hang himself, just hours before he would be arraigned for the murder of his wife.

According to Michael Oznaian of Forbes magazine, it’s not a unique occurrence, but just the latest in a string of suicides over the past 12 months, although two of these “suicides” were considered highly suspicious.

On September 14, 2009, Irish middleweight, Darren Sutherland, 27, was found hanged in his apartment in Bromley, Greater London. He had been suffering from depression. He earned a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He only had a record of 4 fights at the time, but had won all of them.

This is not a clear-cut suicide, but on July 11, 2009. former world champion, Arturo Gatti, was found dead from a gunshot wound in his hotel room in Ipojuca, Pernambuco, Brazil, while on vacation with his Brazilian wife, Amanda Rodrigues, and their 10 month old son. Mrs. Gatti was initially arrested and charged with first degree murder due to suspicious circumstances The Brazilian police later released her and ruled the death a suicide Gatti was a Canadian citizen and his estate is currently tied up in legal challenges. His widow recently came out the winner in a couple of court hearings and will be receiving money from the estate.

On July 1, 2009, Nicaraguan boxer and politician, Alexis Arguello, reportedly shot himself in the heart. He fought in the featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight divisions and was a world champion in each. His death was ruled a suicide, but there was much skepticism surrounding such a verdict.

Also in July of 2009, American boxer, Vernon “The Viper” Forrest was murdered during the course of being robbed at a gas station in Atlanta, Ga.