'The Fighter's' Micky Ward on Arturo Gatti

During the summer of 2009, retired boxer, Irish Micky Ward, his older half-brother and former trainer, Dicky Eklund, and actors Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, often spent time at Wahlberg's home in Beverly Hills.

There, the foursome would not only work out as boxers in Wahlberg's private boxing gym replete with a full ring and boxer's training equipment, but they would also swap blows as part of their preparation for the recently released movie, The Fighter, Ward's story in which Wahlberg plays Ward, and Bale, the drug-addicted Eklund.

The film also stars former middleweight (160 pounds) contender, Miguel Espino, who plays the role of rising boxer, Alfonso Sanchez.

Read more: Miguel Espino: Real Life Rocky Goes Hollywood in 'The Fighter'

The film already has gained Oscar attention as it focuses on the Massachusetts boxer, having been named the "Best Sports Movie of the Decade" by Sports Illustrated.

Although it is not depicted in the movie, Ward (38-13-1, 27 knockouts) was most known for his trilogy with Arturo Gatti, whom Ward defeated, and then, twice lost to, respectively, in May and November of 2002, and then, in June of 2003, before retiring.





It was during a July flight back from Wahlberg's house that Ward recalls his final conversation with Gatti, who would later die under mysterious circumstances in Brazil. Ward originally recounted the story with USA Today's Bob Velin.

"I was on the airplane coming back from Mark Wahlberg's house. It was me and my brother. We were waiting at the airport and he [Gatti] gave me a call while we were waiting there and he said that he was going to be coming down," said Ward, who developed a warm, out-of-the ring friendship with Gatti.

"You know, he knew that we were working on the movie shoot, and he said that when he came back, that he wanted to come back and to maybe hang out on the set," said Ward. "He had met Mark a few times and he was friends with Mark. So he just said that , 'You know, hey, when I get back, I'll come back and see you and Mark, and come and hang out.' But, obviously, you know, he never made it back."

A former world titlist in the IBF super featherweight (130 pounds) and WBC junior welterweight (140 pounds) divisions, Gatti (40-9, 31 KOs) was found dead on July 11 in his hotel room in Brazil, where he was vacationing with his wife, Amanda Rodrigues. Rodriguez was originally arrested and charged with his murder, but later, released.

Initially ruled a suicide, the circumstances surrounding Gatti's death still are being investigated.

"Arturo, you know, he had said that he was going to Brazil to get his son from his son's mother and that he was going to visit for a little while," said Ward. "I knew that he was having problems and stuff with her, and I remember that he [Gatti] had said to me, 'I got to go and do this stuff, and I've got to go and straighten this out.'"

In April, HBO's Real Sports profiled Gatti along with former world boxing champions, Alexis Arguello, 57, and, Vernon Forrest, 38, who died successively, in July of 2009.

Arguello (82-8, 65 KOs) was found dead on July 1 of a gunshot wound to the chest in his home outside of his native Managua, Nicaragua, where he had recently become mayor.

Known as "The Explosive Thin Man," and, "The Ring's Gentleman," Arguello earned the WBA featherweight (126 pounds), WBC super featherweight (130) and WBC lightweight (135) crowns.

On July 25, Forrest was shot several times in the back and pronounced dead at the scene in Atlanta following a robbery. Forrest was known for his youth charity work with an organization called, Destiny's Child, a not for profit group home that assists people with developmental, emotional and psychological disabilities and needs.

Known as "The Viper," Forrest (41-3, 29 KOs) twice earned welterweight (147) crowns, wearing the IBF, and, WBC belts on separate occasions, and also, the WBC light middleweight (154) belt. Forrest is most widely known as being the first man to twice defeat world champion, Shane Mosley.

During an April Q&A with FanHouse, Gatti's longtime manager, Pat Lynch, reflected on the career of the fighter whose nickname was, "Thunder."






"We turned Arturo pro on June 10 of 1991, and then, he retired in 2007," said Lynch of Gatti, who was "the Godfather of my youngest daughter, Cameron," and, who "was an usher in my wedding when I was married to my wife, Lisette,"

Gatti was involved in a Ring Magazine "Fight Of The Year" four times throughout his career, but was most known for his ring three bouts against Ward -- the first and third earned Ring Magazine's "Fight Of The Year" honors.

Other big wins for Gatti were his two decisions over Tracy Harris Patterson and his knockouts of former world champs, Gabriel Ruelas, Calvin Grove, Terron Millett, and, Jesse James Leija.

Ward appears to be in favor of a Fighter sequel that would address both his fights and his relationship with Gatti.

"Hopefully, maybe some day there will be, you know?" said Ward. "Who knows? You never know."