Boxer slated to fight in LV dies

Tuesday, July 28, 1998 | 11:30 a.m.

A professional boxer who was scheduled to fight at the Tropicana Hotel Aug. 22, Cody Koch, was found dead Monday in Shields, Mich. Koch, 25, was slated to take on fellow heavyweight Ed Mahone in Las Vegas on a fight card next month.

Koch, who had lost a fight earlier this year to Mahone in Los Angeles and whose pro record was 25-2, was found lifeless at the Shooters Bar in Saginaw County. The sheriff report indicates Koch and a woman were arguing at the bar, then went outside. When the 6-2, 240-pound Koch attempted to re-enter the bar, bouncers intervened. No charges have been filed and a police captain, Robert Rae, said "he could have died of natural causes for all we know right now." Koch fought once in Las Vegas, at Arizona Charlie's on June 4, 1996, and took a four-round decision win over Louis Monaco.

A fight card headlining IBF junior bantamweight champion Johnny Tapia of Las Vegas will be announced this week for the Las Vegas Hilton on Aug. 29. "I don't want to be premature, but it looks solid," said Bobby Goodman, a matchmaker for Don King Productions. Goodman, speaking by phone Monday from King's offices in Florida, said "we're putting the final pieces together right now." He did not offer the name of the opponent. The Hilton will also host a King-promoted card Aug. 28, with WBA middleweight champion William Joppy taking on Roberto Duran and IBF middleweight champ Bernard Hopkins meeting Robert Allen in the co-main events.