Arturo Gatti Jr., the son of late boxing icon and Hall of Famer Arturo Gatti, has died at 17, the World Boxing Association confirmed Wednesday.

"The WBA and the boxing world mourn the passing of Arturo Gatti Jr. His journey was just beginning, yet his spirit will live on -- now reunited with his legendary father among the stars," the organization's statement read.

Reports of the teenager's death began circulating on social media and were also confirmed by Gatti Sr.'s former bodyguard, Chuck Zito in a social media post.

"It's with a heavy heart that I have to say,...R.I.P. to 17-year-old Arturo Gatti Jr.," Zito wrote on Instagram.

Gatti Jr's trainer, Moe Latif, also confirmed the news in a post on social media.

"It is unfortunately not a rumor or a joke. Arturo is gone," Latif wrote in

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