Boxer Lathon Fatally Shot

S T.  L O U I S, Dec. 13 -- Boxer Ray Lathon, who was training for a fightnext month in Nevada, was fatally shot Tuesday night at arecreational center.

Lathon, 34, appeared to be the target of a lone gunman, whoentered the center just south of downtown about 7 p.m. wearing aski mask, police chief Ron Henderson said.

Lathon, a left-hander who fought in various weight classesduring his pro career, had just finished working out and went to adownstairs office to make a telephone call when he was attacked,Henderson said. Lathon was shot at least four times in the back ofthe head. A woman in the area heard the shots and ran to safety.

“As casually as he walked in according to them, and as casuallyas he walked back out of the center, it appeared that theindividual who was shot was the person he was looking for,”Henderson said.

Lathon was pronounced dead at the scene.

Had 21 KOs in 23 Bouts

Maj. Roy Joachimstaler said detectives had yet to establish amotive. The gunman appeared to know Lathon’s routine and where tofind him, he said.

Lathon was preparing to fight in the North American BoxingFederation cruiserweight championship in Reno, Nev., in January.

He was 22-1 with 21 knockouts. He knocked out Reggie Miller inthe second round of his last fight on Feb. 8.

Lathon lost a unanimous decision to 1992 Olympian MontellGriffin on Sept. 12, 1994, in the Budweiser Great Western ForumLightweight Championship in Los Angeles.