By Sue Montgomery

MONTREAL — Former welterweight champion Arturo Gatti consulted a divorce lawyer two months before his suspicious death — a tragedy that would set his widow up with a $3.4-million inheritance.

But Quebec Superior Court Justice Claudine Roy ruled Monday the conversation between Gatti and Sylvie Schirm is protected under lawyer-client privilege, so Schirm's time on the witness stand was brief.

She confirmed only that she spoke with Gatti's wife, Amanda Rodrigues, on May 11, 2009, to confirm she had a lawyer.

Two months later, Gatti, 37, was found dead in a vacation home in Brazil. Authorities detained and questioned Rodrigues, who was then 23, for three weeks before releasing her without charge.

The death was ruled a suicide, until an independent investigation, commissioned by Gatti's manager, concluded last week that the boxer was hit over the head, then strangled.

Brazilian prosecutors said they would look at that 300-page report, although police in the South American country maintain Rodrigues is still not a suspect.

Meanwhile, a battle over the dead boxer's estate continues in the Montreal courthouse, where Gatti's family alleges he signed his will on June 17, 2009 under pressure from Rodrigues.

She also had him sign a promise that he'd pay her a million dollars if he was unfaithful.

So far, witnesses for the family have testified that Rodrigues was a spoiled, foul-mouthed princess, who constantly criticized the Gatti family and fought with her husband.

Rodrigues's lawyers maintain Gatti was an abusive drunk under court orders to stay away from Rodrigues and out of bars.

On Tuesday, Rodrigues will have a chance to give her version of the rocky relationship that produced one child. She is to take the stand following an appearance from Gatti's mother, Ida.

Last week, Gatti's childhood friend, Antonio Rizzo, testified that Gatti asked him for help finding a divorce lawyer. Rizzo told court Gatti had been "sucker-punched" by Rodrigues and complained that his wife was pushing him to change his will.

Gatti consulted the lawyer in Rizzo's presence on May 8, 2011.

Gatti's estate initially was estimated to be worth between $6 million and $7 million, but court documents show his assets in the United States total $1.8 million, and in Canada $1.6 million.

Sue Montgomery is a reporter for the Montreal Gazette.