The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dale evans says he is scared to get in ring again
dundee: Boxer ‘felt responsible’ for Mike Towell’s death and fears the same fate
The Welshman who defeated Dundee boxer Mike Towell in his final, fatal fight admits he is scared to return to the ring.
“Iron” Mike Towell collapsed after his fifth round loss to Dale Evans in a British title eliminator at the St Andrews Sporting Club in September.
The 25-year-old was given medical treatment in the ring before being taken to hospital but died 24 hours later.
Evans, who makes his comeback this month when he takes on Tony Dixon for the Welsh welterweight title, said if he wins the British welterweight title he will take it to Dundee for Towell’s family. But he said he fears he could also lose his life in the ring.
He told a national newspaper: “It’s this thing of, my girlfriend and my mum, there at the ringside. What if I end up on that stretcher in front of them? What if they never see me again? I find myself worrying about that.”
He added: “You just can’t think like that, as a boxer, but I’ve seen it with Mike. He left a girlfriend, Chloe, without a boyfriend, a two-year-old son without a daddy and a mum without a son.”
Evans added: “I would lie in bed, picturing his little boy without a daddy.
“I felt responsible. My missus hadn’t seen me cry in three years and suddenly I just couldn’t stop.”
Evans went to Dundee for Mike Towell’s funeral, adding: “His mum was getting in a car but she saw me and came over and gave me this big hug and a kiss.
“I was struggling to keep it together and she was saying to stop being silly. I can’t tell you how much I respect her and the whole family.”