Mike Towell dead: Brain injury charity Headway calls for boxing to be banned after the tragic death
The tragedy comes less than seven months after Chris Eubank Jr and Nick Blackwell's bout, which ended the latter's career
BRAIN injury charity Headway has called for boxing to be banned after Scottish fighter Mike Towell died following a serious injury suffered in a bout.
The 25-year-old had to be carried from the ring on a stretcher after a fifth-round loss to Dale Evans in a St Andrews Sporting Club fight in Glasgow on Thursday night.
Towell, from Dundee, was then rushed to the city's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital by ambulance accompanied by his promoter, Tommy Gilmour.
The death was later confirmed by Towell's management, and comes less than seven months after Chris Eubank and Nick Blackwell's bout, which ended the latter's career after he suffered a bleed on the skull when he was stopped in 10 rounds.
Peter McCabe, chief executive of Headway, said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened to hear of this tragic loss of life.
"This was a young father in the prime of his life and our heartfelt thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.
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"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?
"Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. It is another in a long line of boxing tragedies where lives have been lost or irreparably damaged as a result of brain injury.
"Only recently, fellow boxer Nick Blackwell was left in a coma following a bout with Chris Eubank Jnr. After that fight, we repeated our concerns that more young men and women are risking their lives by taking part in boxing.
"We said at the time, and many times previously, that as long as boxing is allowed to continue, more and more young lives will be damaged or lost as a result of opponents deliberately trying to cause neurological harm to each other.
"Tragically, the lessons have not been learned and this young family is paying the ultimate price."