Welsh boxer Dale Evans had said he still thinks of “Iron” Mike Towell every day – 18 months after the Dundee fighter lost his life after their fight.
Evans and Towell fought in an eliminator for the British welterweight title in Glasgow on September 29 2016.
Undefeated going into the bout, Towell, who had complained of headaches in the run up to the fight, was knocked down in the first round but got up to continue fighting.
The fight was stopped in the fifth round. Towell was given oxygen in the ring and was taken to hospital but died the next day.
Evans only fought twice more after the bout and decided to quit boxing earlier this year.
In an emotional interview, he said he is still struggling to come to terms with Towell’s death.
He told The Guardian: “It’s not often I cry but I broke my heart to (girlfriend) Jess so often.
“Sometimes, sitting in silence, I’d break into tears. It will stay with me forever. I came home from that fight and Mike didn’t.
“Mike had a girlfriend, Chloe (Ross), who is mum to his young boy, Rocco. There’s no way I should dare think it’s hard for me.”
Evans said he “hardly slept, hardly ate” after Towell died but said he remains indebted to the boxer’s family for the way they treated him when he came to Dundee to attend the funeral
He said: “It was amazing. This lady came out of the funeral car. As soon as she walked towards me I realised it was Mike’s mum. It broke my heart and she said: ‘Come here. Don’t be silly.’
“She kissed and hugged me and I thought this woman is unbelievably strong. I felt guilt all day surrounded by Mike’s friends and family but not one bad word was said to me.”
He added: “They’re wonderful people.”
Evans fought for the British tile against Bradley Skeete but admitted he had lost his desire to be in the ring.
He had one more professional bout before deciding to quit altogether, even though he had been offered a European title fight.
Evans called for boxers to be given brain scans before fights.
He said: “I’ve heard he was complaining of headaches before the fight. He was in excruciating pain but they just gave him paracetamol. The dangers are never changing but we need more scans to protect fighters.
“Chloe and Tracey, Mike’s mum and girlfriend, raised money for two brain scanners. If you think of the amount of money boxing generates, and the money the board makes, surely each boxer can have a full MRI before a fight?”
Now working as a labourer, Evans said: “I just want people to know I think of Mike Towell, and his family, every day. They are always with me.”
