Suburban Seattle Teenager Dies While Boxing At Fundraiser

A teenager died in a fund-raising boxing match in a home near this Seattle suburb, King County police said.

Joseph Bolger, 17, and an 18-year-old opponent both fell to the mat of the makeshift ring during the match late Saturday night, police spokeswoman Joanne Ellidge said.

Bolger got up, crossed the ring, then collapsed and could not be revived.

Ellidge said the bout was one of several boxing matches that were featured at a fund-raising event for the junior class at Eastlake High School. Some 60 to 80 teenagers were in attendance.

The boxing matches and the rest of the fundraiser were not sanctioned by the school, but there was adult supervision, all boxers wore protective gear and there was no evidence of alcohol consumption, police said.

“It appears the adults and student organizers of this event tried to take the necessary precautions,” Ellidge said.