Ringside Report Rings The Bell For a 10 Count for Our Fallen “Brother In Boxing” “Iron” Mike Towell

By Donald “Braveheart” Stewart

Let’s be honest a week or so ago there were very few people who had ever heard of “Iron” Mike Towell 11-1-1, 8 KO’s. Now his name is on the lips of world champions, like Nathan Cleverly 30-3, 16 KO’s, Sky Sports and Box Nation commentators and we heard 10 bells pronounce his passing. This 25 year old honest and dedicated professional athlete is now known for the 3rd most important role he occupied; a father to Rocco, a partner to Chloe and then a professional boxer to the rest of us.

The first time that I heard his name, it was when my boss, who had been part of his training regime offered him as a sparring partner for Willie Limond 39-5, 11 KO’s; the price was a couple of tickets to Ricky Burns’ 40-5-1, 14 KO’s World title fight. Unfortunately, I didn’t have that kind of pull but having heard the name I wanted to know more.

Sporting a 1970’s mop atop his head, Towell had been Scottish super welterweight champion in only his 4th fight. At this point his career seemed to then plateau. Five fights in 2015 saw him dispatch 5 guys whose records were not that impressive but his application to his craft was what had captured people’s attention. Whilst Towell could not claim big names on his record he was seen by most around him as a very decent prospect. In 2016, that potential was to be tested as he was on the pathway to a Lonsdale Belt – a British Championship – that would have capped phase one.

In March and April of this year he despatched two more fighters and was now on his final eliminator for that belt. Perhaps the greatest legacy that Towell leaves his sport is that honest endeavor can bring reward. He was going to fight for a British title had he got past Dale Evans 12-3-2, 4 KO’s. Evans had already fought for a British title, long with a Commonwealth belt and lost to Sam Eggington 18– 3, 10 KO’s. This was a step up – a massive one – but he went into that ring as the favorite. For many boxers who take up the sport their level is below that of world champion. They may dream and their teenage walls may bear testimony to the dreams and desires that could have proven a contender but the reality for the vast majority is that a decent living from the game is the real goal; their world title belt is providing for a family.

Towell therefore went into that ring as a father and a provider for his family. The boxing fraternity has rallied around the appeal led by former world champion Ricky Hatton with an amazing £30,000 already raised to help the family that have lost their principal bread winner.

Of course with any death that is premature there follows concern that not enough as done to prevent it happening. It is claimed that Towell had been suffering from migraines prior to the fight and the medical fraternity has clarified that the checks in place would have been difficult to get around unless Towell had omitted to mention such an ailment. That any sportsman or woman would hide or diminish the significance of an injury may at other times be described as brave; some are suggesting it was foolhardy.

There shall be much written and investigated whilst we mourn his loss – much of it bunkum. There has already been the proposal put forward that boxing ought to be banned. It has not gathered much credence or many followers beyond the already obvious suspects. Towell’s loss may have brought that back onto the agenda but the reaction of those boxing supporters who have rallied in cause and deed by supporting the call from Hatton has palpably rejected such notions – at least for now.

You see Towell was no massive boxing star and he had not reached the heights that his promise may have brought but the lack of professional baubles to drape around his neck only serves to distinguish him as the guy we all could have been. His career was certainly one that could have shone brighter but his passing gives us the opportunity to celebrate the sport in a way that sugary coated obituaries obscure the hard graft that comes with the territory.

And so here at Ringside Report, we salute a boxer who knew what he wanted, pursued it with guile and fell in the pursuit of his dream. That so many boxers, the world over, have that same dream is testimony to how much we should cherish the memory of this Dundonian now gone.

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