Rivals bonded in promotion ‘war’

Chloe Ross said she “felt horrible” for Mike’s opponent, Dale Evans.

She said the boxers had bonded in the build-up to their fight.

Evans, 24, was devastated by Towell’s death and considered quitting the sport until he was persuaded by Mike’s family to change his mind.

He has since stated an ambition to win the British welterweight title as a tribute to Towell.

Chloe said: “I felt horrible for Dale Evans. It could have gone either way – Michael could have hurt him.

“Not one of us blames him, but he knows that. We’ve all made sure we’ve told him.

“Me and Michael’s mum Tracey have spoken to him quite a lot.”

Mike and Dale appeared to be embroiled in a war of words ahead of the televised bout but Chloe said: “People were expecting an uproar because of Michael’s interviews, but it was all promotion.

“I was gobsmacked because Michael was saying ‘he’s really nice, he was speaking away to me’.

“They were joking about having to lose weight. Dale asked Michael if he had had to cut some weight, and said ‘me too, I can’t wait to have something to eat’. They were speaking like normal friends.

“There was no hatred. They were both there for the same thing.”

Chloe revealed how tributes from the boxer’s friends and others in the boxing world have “comforted” her since his death just one month ago.

She said: “I was shocked at how busy the funeral was. Even at the graveside you couldn’t move.

“There were a lot of people there just to pay their respects who didn’t even know him. “He got a really good send off. “A lot of people loved him.”

Evans says he intends to win the the British title as a tribute to Mike.