Mike Towell: 'A good, honest, hard-working lad'
Tribute to Dundee boxer, Mike Towell, from Brian Howatt at Lochee Boxing Club where 'Iron Mike' trained as a youngster.
Tributes are continuing to pour in for fallen Dundee fighter Mike Towell who lost his life last Friday following a bout in Glasgow.
The 25-year-old died in hospital after he was knocked out in the fifth round of a final eliminator fight for the British welterweight title.
Known as 'Iron Mike', he learned the trade in his hometown of Dundee and trained with Lochee Boxing Club before turning professional three years ago.
Brian Howatt from the club says he was 'a good honest hard working lad, I knew him from his school days until he started work, he trained hard and worked hard. All he wanted to do was provide for his family, his small boy and his girlfriend."
He added: "He loved boxing, it was his life. He had his own individual style and he stuck to it. His main ambition was to turn professional, it was his aim in life to go as far as he could."
"He was always an exciting fighter, he was a typical athlete, he wanted to win, he had to win. When Mike went in the ring everybody watched him because he was exciting."
The father of one leaves behind 2-year-old son Rocco and partner Chloe Ross who said she was in shock'' as tributes continued to pour in from the boxing world.
She wrote an online post thanking people for their kind messages and fundraising''.
She added: I cant believe how loved that boy is! He will be so happy all his boxing heroes know who he is, just the wrong circumstances.''
Mr Howatt revealed Mike Tyson and Ricky Hatton were idols of Mike's, former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton set up a fundraising page which has now topped ÂŁ33,000.
On the JustGiving page, Hatton 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. Give what you can. Let's see if we can smash the ÂŁ20,000.''
Welshman Dale Evans was Mike's final opponent, he spoke of his heartache following the incident.
The Welsh boxer Evans told BBC Wales Sport: "I feel like I am responsible. I can't stop thinking about Mike and his poor family. All my thoughts are with them."
Evans also said the incident saw him consider retiring from the sport but that he would now like to win the British title in Towell's memory.
Referee Victor Loughlin stopped the contest in the fifth round after Towell was knocked down for a second time.
He received treatment at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the city, before being stretchered from the ring and taken by ambulance to Queen Margaret University Hospital.
Mike died 12 hours after his life support machine was switched off.