Arturo Gatti was remembered as a big-hearted, star fighter at his funeral yesterday, drawing a standing ovation from mourners when his mother received a championship belt from the World Boxing Council.

More than 1,000 mourners packed Notre Dame de la Defense church in the heart of Montreal's Italian community to pay respects to the 37-year-old boxer who was found dead July 11 at a Brazilian resort.

"He had the same personality when he was boxing in the ring, and in his life he gave it his all," said Canadian boxing promoter and former national boxing coach Yvon Michel, who has known Gatti for 30 years.

Gatti's wife, Amanda Rodrigues, is being held as the prime suspect. She has been accused, but not charged, of strangling her husband with a purse strap as he slept.

A coroner's report last weekend in Brazil indicates Gatti died of asphyxiation after his body was "suspended and hanged," opening the possibility he may have committed suicide, authorities said.

Gatti retired in 2007 with a 40-9 record and two world titles in his 16-year professional career.

When his mother, Ida Gatti, received the posthumous championship belt in the fighter's honor, mourners stood and applauded.

SOCCER

GALAXY SORRY FOR BECKHAM INCIDENT

Los Angeles Galaxy coach and general manager Bruce Arena says the team regrets the exchange between David Beckham and a fan at halftime of its exhibition against AC Milan.

Arena's comments yesterday come a day after Beckham was the target of frequent booing and derisive banners held up by one of the team's support groups during Beckham's first home game since returning from a five-month loan to AC Milan.

At halftime of Sunday's 2-2 tie, Beckham walked toward the L.A. Riot Squad section and motioned to a fan to come closer. The man jumped down from the seats and was arrested by police for trespassing.

Arena said in a statement issued by the team that it's important for fans to be able to voice their opinions but they must do it in an appropriate manner.

ELSEWHERE

Obituary: Three-time Olympic speedskater Ed Rudolph has died in a car accident in Boulder, Wyo. The Wyoming State Patrol says that 68-year-old Rudolph and his wife, Gwen, were killed Sunday afternoon when the driver of a GMC Suburban swerved to avoid a deer and collided with Rudolph's 2005 Acura. Rudolph was on the 1960, 1964 and 1968 U.S. Olympic teams.

WNBA: Diana Taurasi will be playing in the WNBA All-Star game after being chosen as a reserve by the league. Taurasi, serving a two-game suspension after being cited on drunken-driving related charges, will make her fourth All-Star appearance Saturday in Connecticut. She is the league's top scorer at 20.7 points.

Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo struggled in his first match for Real Madrid, missing two free kicks in a preseason friendly against the Shamrock Rovers in Dublin. Ronaldo, the world's most expensive player ($131million), struck one free kick wide right and the other straight into a wall of Rovers players.

Tennis: Spain's Rafael Nadal is training in Madrid for the first time since being sidelined by a knee injury. Nadal has been out of action with tendinitis in his right knee since losing to Robin Soderling in the fourth round of the French Open.