A fatal accident inquiry is to be held into the death of Dundee boxer Mike Towell, who died after collapsing during a match.
The 25-year-old fell into a coma on September 29, 2016, following a bout with Welsh competitor Dale Evans and later died in hospital.
Towell was stretchered from the ring at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow after being stopped by the referee in the fifth round of what was his 13th professional fight.
A preliminary hearing will be held at Glasgow Sheriff Court on September 26 at 10am, while the date fixed for the start of the full inquiry is November 5 at 10am.
It will examine the circumstances surrounding Towell’s death and a sheriff will consider whether or not it could have been avoided, and what can be done to prevent future deaths or injuries.
The inquiry is mandatory under section 2(3) of the Inquiries into Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016.
Iron Mike’s family campaigned relentlessly to fundraise for brain safety scanners to be introduced within Scottish boxing following his tragic death.
The father-of-one had requested a brain scan on three separate occasions after complaining of pains in his head prior to the fight, however, doctors had advised him it was just a migraine.
Towell’s girlfriend Chloe and mum Tracey purchased two scanners for clubs in Dundee and Stirling, two places where the former fighter learned his trade.
The British and Irish Boxing Authority (BIBA) have since introduced new scanners at fights similar to the ones used by the Russian boxing team at the Olympic Games in Rio.
The devices can help spot possible brain trauma at an early stage via a three minute-long procedure which emits infrared light into the head from eight different points.
It is hoped they will prevent boxers from sustaining permanent brain damage by identifying trauma at an early stage.
The devices can detect damage during the so-called “golden hour” — the 60 minutes after a head injury where pre-hospital assessment is critical to the future neurological health of a patient.
Dr Maurice Mann, a ringside medic for amateur and professional fights, has previously backed the idea.
