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Hundreds attend boxer Mike Towell's funeral in Dundee Hundreds attend boxer Mike Towell's funeral in Dundee
(about 2 hours later)
Fellow boxers have joined friends and family for the funeral in Dundee of Mike Towell, the boxer who died following a televised fight.Fellow boxers have joined friends and family for the funeral in Dundee of Mike Towell, the boxer who died following a televised fight.
The 25-year-old died in hospital on 30 September after being knocked down twice during his bout with Dale Evans in Glasgow the previous evening.The 25-year-old died in hospital on 30 September after being knocked down twice during his bout with Dale Evans in Glasgow the previous evening.
Hundreds of mourners attended the service in the city's St Andrew's Cathedral.Hundreds of mourners attended the service in the city's St Andrew's Cathedral.
Evans attended the service with fellow boxer Nick Blackwell.Evans attended the service with fellow boxer Nick Blackwell.
The Welshman later posed for a photograph at a tribute mural to Towell at Dundee Waterfront.The Welshman later posed for a photograph at a tribute mural to Towell at Dundee Waterfront.
Towell's family asked those attending to celebrate his life.Towell's family asked those attending to celebrate his life.
Many friends and members of his boxing club arrived at the funeral wearing white T-shirts with a picture of Towell celebrating a win on them, with "Iron Mike Towell" written on the back.Many friends and members of his boxing club arrived at the funeral wearing white T-shirts with a picture of Towell celebrating a win on them, with "Iron Mike Towell" written on the back.
Others wore hoodies with messages such as "Dundee's champ", "Team Towell" and "the legend lives on".Others wore hoodies with messages such as "Dundee's champ", "Team Towell" and "the legend lives on".
Members of the Stirling gym where Towell trained also wore T-shirts with "1314" on them, in reference to the name of the complex.Members of the Stirling gym where Towell trained also wore T-shirts with "1314" on them, in reference to the name of the complex.
The hearse arrived at the cathedral accompanied by floral tributes reading "daddy" and "Iron Mike".The hearse arrived at the cathedral accompanied by floral tributes reading "daddy" and "Iron Mike".
Undertakers escorted the coffin into the service with a floral crucifix sitting on top.Undertakers escorted the coffin into the service with a floral crucifix sitting on top.
The service was conducted by Canon Kevin Golden.The service was conducted by Canon Kevin Golden.
The hymns The Old Rugged Cross, The Lord's My Shepherd, and Be Still, And Know I Am With You were sung at the funeral service.The hymns The Old Rugged Cross, The Lord's My Shepherd, and Be Still, And Know I Am With You were sung at the funeral service.
A statement issued by Towell's family said: "Today is the hardest day of all for us, the day we realised for sure really that Mike wasn't coming home to us.
"The two weeks since we lost him have been very hard for us to bear, it has seemed almost surreal.
"Yet it has been a time when we have needed the strength of each other and of those around us."
'Real comfort'
The family said it had been a "real comfort" to have Dale Evans at the funeral service.
The statement said: "He has also been through so much and no fault will ever lie with him, this was just two boys boxing and doing what they loved best.
"Dale is a terrific lad and it has meant so much that he has kept in touch with us so much since the fight. He is in bits and devastated like us all.
"We are thinking about him, we care about him and we would like to thank Dale and all the thousands who have sent messages of support and goodwill since Mike passed.
"We have lost a son, a partner and a father and we will always mourn him, yet we know we will always smile every day at his memory too."
Dundee sports journalist Jim Spence said the service was "very emotional."Dundee sports journalist Jim Spence said the service was "very emotional."
He said: "It was the city turning out to give its respects to a favoured son who had a great record in boxing.He said: "It was the city turning out to give its respects to a favoured son who had a great record in boxing.
"He had a terrific future ahead of him, so St Andrew's Cathedral was absolutely chockablock."He had a terrific future ahead of him, so St Andrew's Cathedral was absolutely chockablock.
"He had achieved so much in such a short space of time, but a great tragedy and a great sadness that it was cut short so tragically.""He had achieved so much in such a short space of time, but a great tragedy and a great sadness that it was cut short so tragically."
A family statement said: "We will always mourn losing him, but we hope everyone takes time to remember the enjoyment and smiles he brought into their lives. Money raised at the funeral in lieu of flowers will be donated to the special care baby unit at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, where Towell spent a week when he was born, and the neurology unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
"As a sign of this, we would ask that no-one wears either black or red to the funeral, Mike didn't like the colour red.
"Also, we would request that there be no floral tributes, instead there will be a donation at the cathedral that will benefit charities close to the hearts of Mike and the family."
The boxer was buried in Dundee's Birkhill Cemetery.
A mural commemorating the welterweight was unveiled in Dundee this week.A mural commemorating the welterweight was unveiled in Dundee this week.
Towell was knocked down in the first round of the fight at the Radisson Blu Hotel, before recovering to continue the match.Towell was knocked down in the first round of the fight at the Radisson Blu Hotel, before recovering to continue the match.
Referee Victor Loughlin stopped the fight in the fifth round shortly after Towell was knocked down by Evans for a second time.Referee Victor Loughlin stopped the fight in the fifth round shortly after Towell was knocked down by Evans for a second time.
He received treatment in the ring and was given oxygen before being taken to an ambulance on a stretcher.He received treatment in the ring and was given oxygen before being taken to an ambulance on a stretcher.
In a Facebook post, his partner Chloe Ross said Towell died "peacefully", 12 hours after he was taken off life support.In a Facebook post, his partner Chloe Ross said Towell died "peacefully", 12 hours after he was taken off life support.
Ms Ross wrote: "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."Ms Ross wrote: "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."