Arterial Disease Blamed in Death
An autopsy today revealed that arterial disease caused the death of a 36-year-old boxer who collapsed during a gym workout.
A spokeswoman for the Maine chief medical examiner’s office said the death of Rick Craney on Monday night was attributed to “severe stenosing coronary artery atherosclerosis.”
Craney was working out at a gym in preparation for his fight on the undercard of Saturday night’s World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight when he was stricken.
Witnesses said Craney collapsed on an exercise bench after sparring three rounds each with two opponents at the Olympic Boxing Club.
Craney, a one-time Maine welterweight champion, was to have fought Bernard Boisvert prior to a welterweight championship match between champion Manning Galloway and Nika Kumalo.
“He had just finished sparring six rounds, and he was on an exercise bench when he slipped onto the floor,” said trainer Gene Roberts, who was watching the workout.
Another trainer helped Craney back onto the bench.
“He said, ‘It’s all right, I’m OK,’ and then he fell again,” Roberts said.
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