By Sue Montgomery

Erica Rivera received her $4,640 child-support payment this month from the late Arturo Gatti, but stopped his widow from collecting hers.

The revelation shocked Justice Claudine Roy, who is presiding over the at-times absurd trial contesting the late boxer's will, which left everything to his widow, Amanda Rodrigues.

As part of her legal moves to have a 2007 will recognized as the real wishes of her ex, Rivera had the assets of Gatti's estate frozen, leaving Rodrigues with no financial support for the son she had with the boxer, or money to pay lawyers in the case.

"Mrs. Rodrigues didn't get hers because of what you did," the judge said. "We are spending a lot of attorneys' money to get this unfrozen because of what you did."

Rivera claimed Friday in Quebec Superior Court that she wasn't aware that Rodrigues wasn't getting support payments, and promised to instruct her lawyer immediately to free up funds and would sell some of her things, if need be, to help Arturo Jr., 3.

"The baby needs to be taken care of," said Rivera, who lives in New Jersey. "That's not fair."

Rivera's daughter, Sophia, is set for life with a $125,000 education fund, a $250,000 share of a house and a $1-million trust fund, from which the monthly support payments are drawn. The financial nest egg was set up by Gatti shortly after she was born in 2006 and after the couple split in 2007.

Rivera, who is co-plaintiff in contesting the will, along with Gatti's mother and brother, claim Rodrigues pressured Gatti to sign it just weeks before he was found dead in July 2009 in Brazil, while vacationing with his young family.

"I believe that she had him killed or she did it herself," Rivera said of Rodrigues.

The judge voiced concern that the parties are suing because they believe Rodrigues is involved in the death, even though that's not alleged in their motion. It charges only that Rodrigues is not worthy of inheriting his estate of an estimated $3.6 million.

"Don't you think that's why it hasn't been settled yet?" said Roy, who has consistently encouraged both sides to settle in order not to eat up the entire estate with legal fees.

Saying she rarely comments during a trial, Roy then accused Rivera of not being aware of what she was doing and not being present throughout the trial.

Rivera didn't know, for example, that a $2-million civil suit filed in Florida against the estate could succeed because the money to pay defence lawyers has been frozen.

If the estate is in deficit as a result, the money may have to come out of Sophia's $1-million trust fund.

"I don't know the details," Rivera said, choking back tears. "I can't be here every day. I work full time and am a full-time mom."

Sue Montgomery is a reporter for the Montreal Gazette