Tayside boxer in coma

“Iron” Mike Towell suffers severe brain injuries in title elimination fight in Glasgow.

A Dundee boxer is in a coma after being knocked out in a title eliminator in Glasgow on Thursday night.

“Iron” Mike Towell, 25, was fighting Dale Evans in a final eliminator for the British welterweight title at the Radisson Blue hotel in Glasgow when he collapsed in the fifth round.

The Courier understands he suffered severe brain injuries and is being kept alive by a life support machine at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow.

He collapsed after the fight was stopped in the fifth round.

His mother Tracey leapt into the ring as he was given oxygen before he was rushed to hospital.

Both his mother and his fiancee Chloe Ross remained at his hospital bedside yesterday.

Towell’s manager Tommy Gilmour said the boxer had suffered a “serious injury” and is now on a ventilator.

Towell, a scaffolder by trade, was knocked down by a right hook in the first round but got to his feet after a count of eight.

However, Evans knocked Towell down again in the fifth round with a left hook.

Although Towell was able to climb to his feet again, referee Victor Loughlin stepped in to stop the bout as Evans launched another series of blows.

Welshman Evans said he would not celebrate his victory until his opponent had recovered.

Evans later released a statement describing Towell as a “true warrior”.

He said: “I am devastated and all my thoughts are with Mike and his family.

“The ingredients were there for an entertaining fight and it was that, we are both punchers and so sadly for Mike he came out the wrong side.

“He is such a fantastic fighter, you are happy to win but all I wanted to do was get the victory. Not this.

“I never wanted to see my opponent being stretchered out of the ring.

“Who would ever want that sight? That was so hard for his family and my heart goes out to them.”

Towell was undefeated going into Thursday’s bout, winning 11 and drawing one of his professional fights.

Evans added: “It was a fantastic atmosphere and I got applauded out after all that happened and that sums up the knowledge of the fans at the St Andrew’s Sporting Club and the Scottish people.

“The aftermath of the fight is so hard to take in but I just want people to know that every thought I have today is with Mike Towell’s family.

“He is a true warrior who has brought such excitement to Scottish boxing.”

Towell is managed by St Andrew’s Sporting Club in Glasgow.

A spokesman for the club said: “All of our thoughts and prayers are with Mike and the Towell family at this very difficult time.”

“Mike Towell is in a critical condition in Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth hospital after his fifth-round defeat in the British welterweight title eliminator with Dale Evans at the club last night.

“Club director Iain Wilson and Mike’s manager, Tommy Gilmour, travelled with him in the ambulance after the fight and have been at his bedside through the night with his family.

“We took the immediate decision to suspend last night’s show in the wake of Mike’s contest.”

Former Scottish WBO featherweight world champion Alex Arthur tweeted: “Hoping and praying young Mike Towell pulls through.”

Heissucha fantastic fighter, you are happy to win but all I wanted to do was get the victory. Not this. I never wanted to see my opponent being stretchered out of the ring. DALE EVANS