Police in Brazil have detained the wife of Canadian boxer Arturo "Thunder" Gatti as a suspect in his death. The boxer's body was found early Saturday morning in a hotel room at the posh Porto de Galinhas resort.

Amanda Rodrigues, 23, was taken into custody on Sunday after she gave contradictory statements to police, Brazilian authorities said.

According to Pernambuco state police spokesperson Milena Saraiva, the police investigation is not yet complete. However, authorities were concerned that Rodrigues, who is from Brazil, could not explain how she spent 10 hours in the hotel room without noticing that Gatti was dead.

Saraiva told The Associated Press that Gatti was strangled with the strap of a purse, which was found at the scene covered with blood stains. Gatti also had a head injury.

Brazilian police formally accused Rodrigues Sunday in the death, but they stopped short of laying charges, The Associated Press reported.

She has denied any part in the death.

The couple arrived at the resort in northeastern Brazil on Friday with their one-year-old son, Arturo Jr., who is now being looked after by Rodrigues' sister.

Police are following up on reports that the couple was observed fighting and that Gatti was drunk when they returned to their room, Saraiva said.

Four-time world champion boxer Acelino (Popo) Freitas, who is from Brazil, told Globo TV's website that he was close to the couple and that he "knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate."

The 37-year-old former junior welterweight champion compiled a 40-9 record during a 16-year professional career.

Friend and former boxer Howard Grant said he is deeply saddened by Gatti's death.

He added that the pugilist was one of the sport's most exciting personalities.

"The kind of drama that he brought to boxing hasn't been seen in a very, very long time," Grant told CTV Montreal.

"It's a very, very big loss to the boxing industry."

Gatti, who was born in Italy but grew up in Montreal, had an all-or-nothing fighting style that often led to bloody punch ups in the ring, making him a fan favourite.

Gatti retired from professional boxing in 2007. After spending much of his boxing career in the United States, Gatti moved back to Montreal, where he got involved in the real estate business.

Montreal boxing promoter Yvon Michel said that friends knew there was some trouble in Gatti's marriage.

"Everybody around him knew that it was a difficult relationship with his wife," Michel said, adding that both Gatti and his wife were known to be fiery individuals.

"I believe that his wife was a little bit wild, too. Not a good mix."

With files from The Associated Press