Dundee boxer Mike Towell critically ill after Glasgow fight
A boxer is in a critical condition in hospital after being stretchered from the ring.
A boxer is in a critical condition in hospital after being stretchered from the ring.
Mike Towell, 25, suffered a fifth-round loss to Dale Evans in a St Andrews Sporting Club fight at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on Thursday night and was rushed to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
The event, which was being broadcast on STV Glasgow, was suspended after Towell's fight.
Manager Tommy Gilmour travelled with Towell in an ambulance from the event and is said to have been at his bedside through the night with his family.
The fight was an eliminator for the British welterweight title.
Towell, from Dundee, had been undefeated going into Thursday's fight, with 11 previous wins and one draw on his professional record.
St Andrews Club confirmed he remains in a critical condition and said its "thoughts and prayers are with Mike and the Towell family".
Opponent Evans, from Wales, wrote on Twitter: "All of my thoughts & prayers are with Mike, family & friends right now.
"Celebrations can be put on hold for tonight until we hear more."
A spokesman for the St Andrews Sporting Club said: "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. All of our thoughts and prayers are with Mike and the Towell family at this very difficult time."
According to the BoxRed database of professional fights, Towell was knocked down in the first round and again in the fifth prior to the stoppage.
The bout was refereed by Victor Loughlin, who was also in charge of the British middleweight title fight in March between Chris Eubank and Nick Blackwell, which ended the latter's career after he suffered a bleed on the skull when he was stopped in 10 rounds.
Evans described Towell as a "true warrior".
In a statement released through the St Andrews Sporting Club, Evans 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.
"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 Andrews 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."