CALL FOR BAN AFTER BOXER’S HORROR DEATH
World health experts’ plea to scrap boxing after tragedy of Scots father
THE tragic death of a Scottish boxer who collapsed during a fight sparked fresh calls last night for a complete ban on the sport.
Mike Towell, 25, suffered a blow so fierce from Welsh opponent Dale Evans on Thursday night that he was removed from the ring on a stretcher and taken to hospital.
But the father-of-one was unable to survive severe bleeding and swelling to his brain and died with his family by his side on Friday.
His heartbroken girlfriend revealed he had complained of headaches in the weeks before the match, which was filmed for live television, and the tragedy has now sparked new calls for boxing to be outlawed.
Doctors, charities and politicians yesterday demanded either an end to the sport or at least changes to the rules. Brain injury charity Headway’s chief executive Peter McCabe said: ‘This was a young father in the prime of his life and, quite rightly, the focus at this time should be on supporting the family.
‘But the question remains: how many more lives have to be damaged or lost before this senseless sport is banned?
‘As long as boxing is allowed to continue, more young lives will be damaged or lost as a result of opponents deliberately trying to cause neurological harm to each other.’
Politicians also spoke out following Mr
THE devastated girlfriend of tragic boxer Mike Towell yesterday paid tribute to her ‘best friend’ after he lost his battle to survive.
Chloe Ross revealed her heartache following his death and said the couple’s young son will be ‘so proud’ of his father.
Her comments came after the 25year-old was knocked to the floor during a fierce bout on Thursday night. The boxer was taken to hospital but died with his family by his side on Friday.
In an emotional post on Facebook, Ms Ross, mother to two-year-old Rocco, stated: ‘I’m absolutely heartbroken to say my annoying best friend passed away tonight at 11.02 very peacefully.’
She continued: ‘It has been the longest 24 hours of our lives. My baby has lost his daddy. But he will be so proud of his dad in what he achieved. Today once he was taken off of his life support he managed 12 hours, 12 whole rounds off his life support, he fought right to the end and he’s done us all so proud.’
In her comments, Ms Ross also mentioned the welterweight had been suffering migraines ahead of the fight but the pair believed it was stress.
She revealed: ‘Michael had severe bleeding and swelling to his brain.
‘He had been complaining of headaches for the last few weeks but we put it down to migraines with the stress of his fight.’
Mr Towell died after hitting the canvas during the fifth round of his welterweight final eliminator bout against Welsh fighter Dale Evans, during a St Andrew’s Sporting Club fight in Glasgow’s Radisson Blu Hotel. He was taken away on a stretcher and rushed to Queen Eliza- beth University Hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe bleeding and swelling to his brain.
Mr Towell, from Dundee, died surrounded by his family 12 hours after he was taken off life support.
Also present was his boxing manager Tommy Gilmour, who said he was ‘devastated’. He added: ‘He was Iron Mike to the end, he kept fighting till the last, and we have lost an exciting boxer but, more importantly, a very special man.
‘I am devastated and all my thoughts are with Mike’s mum Tracey, his partner Chloe and their little son Rocco.
‘He was one of the greatest characters I have worked with, I came away from every phone call or chat we had smiling and shaking my head in bewilderment.’
Mr Towell and Mr Evans were competing in the British final eliminator match, being filmed for STV.
A St Andrew’s Sporting Club spokesman said nobody in the tragic boxer’s management team was aware of him having any headaches in the run-up to the bout.
And the organisation’s owner Iain Wilson yesterday paid his own tribute to the athlete. He said: ‘He wasn’t just a fighter at our club, he was my friend and a special heart-and-soul guy. I was with the family through the night after the fight, they are heartbroken and everyone at the club shares their grief.
‘We have lost one of our favourite sons and boxing has lost an explosive talent but the biggest loss of all is for the Towell family. We will rally round them now to do all we can.’
Mr Evans yesterday told of his anguish at seeing his opponent removed from the ring on a stretcher.
The 24-year-old said: ‘I am devastated and all my thoughts are with Mike and his family. The ingredients were there for an entertaining fight, 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.
He continued: ‘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 want people to know that every thought I have today is with Mike Towell’s family.
‘He is a true warrior who has
‘Fought right to the end and made us proud’
brought such excitement to Scottish boxing.’
Match referee Victor Loughlin had previously officiated over a fight that prompted the early retirement of another promising fighter.
He was in charge of the British middleweight title contest in March between Chris Eubank Jr and Nick Blackwell, which was stopped in the tenth round as the latter suffered a bleed on the skull, ending his career.
In an outpouring of support, boxing veteran Ricky Hatton yesterday set up a JustGiving fund to raise £20,000 for Mr Towell’s family. On the online page, which generated almost £7,000 in an hour, the celebrity sportsman wrote: ‘Mike Towell lost his life doing either what he loved or looking after his family – or both. A young boy and partner are left behind. Let’s make sure they are looked after.’
Police Scotland last night confirmed a post mortem would be carried out with a report submitted to the procurator fiscal and ongoing enquiries.
An STV spokesman said: ‘We offer our deepest sympathy to the family of Mike Towell at this tragic time.’