By Mark Vester
The unexpected Tuesday passing of Baltimore heavyweight Mike "The American Dream" Dietrich (12-1) has shocked many. He was training for a scheduled bout with Wes Taylor on March 20. Dietrich's trainer Jake Smith told reporters the fighter had been training hard on Monday and sparred for six rounds. When the Baltimore County Police arrived at a home Dietrich was staying at, the fighter was in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead at the scene. There was no sign of injury or foul play and an autopsy has been ordered.
The Dundalk Eagle reports Dietrich, 26 years old, had been in a fight the night before his death at Club Flamingo, where he worked as a bouncer.
"Mike had been in a fight the night before," said his trainer, Jake Smith. "When I saw his body, he had blood caked over his face like someone had hit him in the head. I think that may have had something to do with it."
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