FAI into death of Mike Towell

[dalcumly]

The Sheriff's written judgement into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Mike Towell in Glasgow in 2016 are now publicly available on the Scotcourts website . ( type in Fatal Accident Inquiries and it will take you to the scotcourts website).
Some major points in the judgment
If Mike had been honest with the Boards medical examiners his licence would not have been issued since 2014.
Dale Evans was totally exonerated.
Recommendations to the Board that in future each boxer when undergoing their annual medical must declare details of their GP and details of any vists to a medical practitioner in the previous 12 months. The Sheriff further recommends that the Board then write to all the GP's to ask if there is anything in their view which would prevent the boxer from fighting.
Of course these are only recommendations meantime but the Board would have to seriously consider why they would not be adopted.

[jamamb]

dale evans should never have to be announced as exonerated, he was just a boxer in a boxing match

i wonder what mikes health issue was, i might take a look at it

[Alba]

dale evans should never have to be announced as exonerated, he was just a boxer in a boxing match

i wonder what mikes health issue was, i might take a look at it

That might be how you view it, but reality is in a FAI he would be Exonerated considering they shared a ring

[daviddee]

This is a total joke. I heard this on the radio!! There may have been underlying medical issues but people who should be made accountable for this tragedy are getting away with it.. Mike was a fighting man and should not of been allowed to fight.. It’s all about money in boxing and the fighters are just a number in all of this

[JamieM]

Sad to see many people in boxing lie to cover tracks. People he trusted to keep him safe

[bigped]

Sad to see many people in boxing lie to cover tracks. People he trusted to keep him safe

Would you saying mate people close
To him managers /coaches knew he was unwell and let him box? I really hope not if so they have blood on their hands mate

[daviddee]

Would you saying mate people close
To him managers /coaches knew he was unwell and let him box? I really hope not if so they have blood on their hands mate

They really don’t care mate.. So many people in it for themselves. Sad that a young kid will grow up without a father.. A partner without him and mother without a child.. It looks like it’s blame the exploited boxer. Would the show of went on if Mike had to pull out? It makes me so sad the way this has been handled people should be accountable

[dalcumly]

Before people make wide emotional statements they really should take the time and read ALL the 200 odd pages in the document.

[banjo]

If he was hiding medical information in order to get a licence how can you blame anybody else?

[3132DW]

Sad to see many people in boxing lie to cover tracks. People he trusted to keep him safe

Think you should read all the details - unfortunately and sadly deadly in this case a lot of the fault lay with Mike Towell.

He covered things up to continue his love (boxing) with fatal consequences.

[JamieM]

I read every page, certain people knew about the headaches etc before the fight took place. Its that simple. People who were meant to protect him didn't.

[oogiebe]

How many more times is this same type of situation being played out across boxing. Fighters who know nothing else to make a living, hiding injuries and pains to just keep putting bread on the table. Something has to change. the need for annual complete examinations and sets of testing may be expensive, but how do you measure that against a life?

One thing I don't get is why the inquiry felt the need to make a call on the opponent. That's just plain silly.

[fizzjambo]

How many more times is this same type of situation being played out across boxing. Fighters who know nothing else to make a living, hiding injuries and pains to just keep putting bread on the table. Something has to change. the need for annual complete examinations and sets of testing may be expensive, but how do you measure that against a life?

One thing I don't get is why the inquiry felt the need to make a call on the opponent. That's just plain silly.

It’s not silly, it’s standard practise for FAI’s to explicitly cover these details. We’re looking at this from a boxing perspective. Fatal Accident Enquiries are designed to cover these details and should be viewed from a legal and HSE perspective.

[JamieM]

There all wolves in sheep clothing. There a disgrace. All based on hear say and covering each others backs. Fighters employ managers and trainers to protect them, I know first hand how fighters are and at the lower scale of boxing they make no money and often fight just to entertain there own fans who they beg to go watch them. See at the end of the day mikey had no formal diagnosis of epilepsy, although there would be recorded incidents if there was to be an application of say DLA there would not have been a diagnosis. Dragging the mans name threw the mud I actually feel disgusted with it. Karma is real and the only good thing to come of it is the people who failed are no longer in the game.

[3132DW]

I read every page, certain people knew about the headaches etc before the fight took place. Its that simple. People who were meant to protect him didn't.

But surely the only person who could protect Mike Towell was Mike Towell himself ?

I get what your saying and fighters only know one thing but he got on the ring with health issues - he also knew the risks involved.

Spare a thought for the opponent as well who needs to live with this as well.

[JamieM]

Please dont take this message in the wrong way as its not meant like that, have you ever spent time around a decent level boxer? Confidence, arrogance, ego. They have this belief of invincibility. Mikey had around 10 fights and bowled over most, went to war with rhys pagan and came away to victor, same as any other fighter I dont believe for a minute he believed that was the risk. In the document there was no formal diagnosis and of course he is going to play it down, a boxer never wants to lose that buzz especially before you have achieved what you want to achieve. Their is a flaw in the system. I know many boxers and I can't imagine any of them disclosing something that will take away boxing, it's their life. The people in his team knew about the headaches, why would his family lie? It's being swept under the carpet. He had a shed load of pressure on him, biggest opportunity of his life, all his friends and family had spent money on tickets and hotels and travel, and the show falls apart without him also this being his first time on TV. They make it out black and white when there is so much more that goes on. I have seen it first hand what goes on behind the scenes and it isnt all glitz and glamour like these match room shows portray. Sad but this verdict now scupperes the chances of change and now we await another incident. Sad.

[leejonesjnr]

I don't think that it is unusual that they have explicitly stated that the opponent was not at fault, nor do I think there is any reason why they wouldn't or shouldn't.
The idea that Mike Towell was being mistreated by others for money is a dubious one, there was no money involved.

[JamieM]

No money involved? And how would you know this? Mikey was probably one of the biggest ticket sellers I have come across. On the Dundee show he sold well 200 VIP tickets alongside the main show sponsor coming from him and about 5 other sponsors. That whole show including the sponsor was all there for him. I never seen eye to eye with mikey all the time but one thing I would never ever deny as he had a way of getting people to go watch him, and his family were on the ball when it came to tickets they knew exactly how the game worked and what it was going to take.

[Coco]

Most boxers need to have their licenses taken off them as there would be few willing to hand them in.

[dalcumly]

I'm sorry to have to say this because a poor lad has lost his life at a sports event, but Mike repeatedly lied to the Boards medical examiners because he knew that if he told the truth his licence would be revoked.
This has now caused a situation where the Board will be expected to write to GPs and ask if there is anything in a boxers history which would prevent him boxing. This cost , and it can vary, would have to be paid by the boxer and GPs would not need to reply quickly. And how many doctors know exactly which ailments could prevent them boxing ? How many doctors don't agree with boxing anyway?
Can I also add, reluctantly, that it appears from the report that the principal reason why Mike was never fully diagnosed was because he failed to attend hospital appointments.