Boxing: Ticket sales go to dead boxer's family

LONDON (AFP) - All money made from remaining ticket sales to Ricky Burns's world super-lightweight title defence will be donated to the family of dead boxer Mike Towell, it was announced on Wednesday (Oct 5).

Towell died in hospital on Friday after being stretchered from the ring in Glasgow the previous day.

The 25-year-old Scot had been beaten in the fifth round of a British welterweight title eliminator.

Former world champion Ricky Hatton has helped raise almost £40,000 ($69,800) to support his family and with Scotland's Burns defending his WBA belt on Friday, promoter Eddie Hearn promised to add to the fundraising.

"I think it's important to everybody at this table and everyone involved in boxing to pass our deepest sympathies to the family of Mike Towell," said Hearn.

"This sport, as you've seen by the donations and efforts of Ricky Hatton, is a sport that is very tight-knit and if you take away the politics and rivalries, I don't think there was anyone who wasn't absolutely devastated to hear the news of his passing.

"There's so many things planned up here and I think everyone has a responsibility to do their piece, so tomorrow, one week from Mike Towell's final fight, we will be donating 100 per cent of all ticket sales from midnight tonight to midnight on Thursday to the family of Mike Towell.

"I think everybody involved in boxing has a responsibility to help in some way."

Towell had been unbeaten prior to the fight, with 11 wins and one draw on his professional record.

Chloe Ross, the mother of Towell's son, Rocco, said he had been "complaining of headaches for the last few weeks".

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