Mike Towell: Ricky Hatton's fundraiser for tragic boxer passes £20,000 target in one day

Target smashed: £20,000 fund raising target for Mike Towell passed in one day
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Jamie Micklethwaite2 October 2016

A fundraiser for tragic boxer Mike Towell who died after being seriously injured in the ring has passed its £20,000 target in one day.

The fundraiser, set-up by former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton, aims to raise as much money as possible for Mr Towell's partner, Chloe Ross, and young son, Rocco.

A "heartbroken" Ms Ross spoke of her loss and said Mr Towell, from Dundee, had been suffering from headaches in the weeks before Thursday's fight as a politician and doctors questioned the safety of the sport.

The boxer's management team said they were not aware of any headache complaints.

Tragic: Mike Towell died on Friday after suffering injuries in the ring
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The 25-year-old welterweight, was stretchered from the ring after a fifth-round loss to Dale Evans in a St Andrew's Sporting Club fight in Glasgow.

He was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, diagnosed with severe bleeding and swelling to his brain and died shortly after 11pm on Friday, 12 hours after being taken off life support.

Ms Ross, his partner of eight years, wrote on Facebook: "I'm absolutely heartbroken to say my annoying best friend passed away tonight at 11.02 very peacefully.

"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.

"It has been the longest 24 hours of our lives. My baby has lost his daddy. But he will be so so proud of his dad in what he achieved.

"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."

A spokesman for St Andrew's said nobody in Towell's management team was aware of any headache problems leading up to the fight.

The eliminator for the British welterweight title at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, was being broadcast on STV Glasgow when Towell was fatally injured.

On the JustGiving page he set up, Mr Hatton, who has donated £5,000 of his own money, 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 £20,000."

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