First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has sent the condolences of MSPs to the loved ones of tragic Dundee boxer Mike Towell.
The 25-year-old welterweight had to be stretchered from the ring after a fifth-round loss to Dale Evans in a St Andrew’s Sporting Club fight in Glasgow last Thursday.
The young father was rushed to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where he was diagnosed with severe bleeding and swelling to his brain. He died the following night.
Speaking during First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon said: “On behalf of parliament, can I take this opportunity to convey sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mike Towell, who sadly lost his life following a boxing match in Glasgow last Thursday.
“The British Boxing Board of Control is investigating the circumstances and it would be obviously inappropriate for any of us to comment on the details at this time.”
The SNP leader spoke in response to a question from Conservative MSP Liz Smith about head injuries in sport.
Ms Sturgeon pointed to the fact Scotland was the first country in the world to introduce guidelines, in May last year, for dealing with concussion in sport.
Ms Smith asked whether there should be a standardised approach to serious concussion injuries across all sports, highlighting that suspension from the ring for such cases in boxing is at least 28 days, but just seven days in rugby.
The First Minister told her: “We do need to make sure that we keep this under review and that as we do so we are informed of the best medical opinion.”
Ms Smith’s party colleague, Brian Whittle MSP, has called for a fatal accident inquiry to be held into Mr Towell’s death.
An online fundraising appeal launched by former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton has helped surpass a target to raise £40,000 to support Mr Towell’s family.
