By Lem Satterfield

BoxingScene.com has learned that a sequel to the academy award-winning "The Fighter" movie, the story of professional boxer, Irish Micky Ward, likely to be called, "The Fighter II," is "definitely in the works," according to a source.

"The Fighter" tells the story of Irish Micky Ward as portrayed by Mark Wahlberg, focusing on Ward's life in the blue-collar streets of Lowell, Mass., from which he successfully rises to become a fringe world titlist even as he is one of nine adult children in a dysfunctional family run by their mother.

The film was named the "Best Sports Movie of the Decade" by "Sports Illustrated," whose cover was graced by Wahlberg and actor Christian Bale, who portrays Ward's crack-addicted half-brother and former boxer, Dicky Eklund.

Bale and actress Melissa Leo, won Oscars for their roles, with Leo playing Ward's mother. Actress Amy Adams was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Ward's girlfriend.

Although it is not depicted in the movie, Ward (38-13-1, 27 knockouts) was most known for his trilogy with Arturo Gatti (40-9, 31 KOs), whom Ward defeated, and then, twice lost to, respectively, in May and November of 2002, and then, in June of 2003, before retiring.

The Fighter II will involve Gatti's story in some fashion, according to the source.

"It will have a lot to do with Arturo Gatti, and, obviously, the trilogy with Micky Ward. The thing is that they're pitching two or three different ideas on how they want to do the second one," said the source.

"Like, at what point do you bring Arturo in? Do you start with his whole career, or do you start after Oscar De La Hoya, when he meets Buddy McGirt and they fight Mickey, and then, Mickey becomes his trainer?" said the source. "So they're tossing a bunch of things around, but it's real, man, and everybody's on board."

The details could be worked out by the end of this week, according to the source.

A former world titlist in the IBF super featherweight (130 pounds) and WBC junior welterweight (140 pounds) divisions, Gatti was found dead on July 11 in his hotel room in Brazil, where he was vacationing with his wife, Amanda Rodrigues.

Rodrigues 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.

Gatti turned pro on June 10 of 1991, retired in 2007, and 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 earning 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.