WELSHMAN Dale Evans, who was involved in a fatal fight with Mike Towell in 2016, has announced his retirement from boxing, saying he has lost his hunger for the sport.
Scottish fighter Towell suffered a brain injury in a bout with Evans in Glasgow 17 months ago.
The 25-year-old Towell was knocked out in the fifth round of the scheduled 12-round fight and died in hospital the following day.
โ Dale Evans (@DaleEvans_912) February 21, 2018
โAfter some time out and questioning if I would fight again, a big fight was offered,โ Evans, 26, said after being offered a European title opportunity.
โAs always I jumped at it. But the spark, the hunger and the determination wasnโt there.
โJust worry and fear, Iโll openly admit.
โThatโs why I have made the decision I have.โ
Evans, from Carmarthenshire, turned professional in 2011 and was trained by former WBU middleweight champion Gary Lockett.
He suffered a British welterweight title loss to Bradley Skeete last July and retires with a record of 13 wins, four defeats and two draws.
Evans fought just twice after the Towell tragedy, beating Kevin McCauley on points before losing a unanimous decision to Skeete.
After Towellโs death he had vowed to win a British title in the Scotโs honour.
โMaybe I set the bar a bit high for myself or maybe I wasnโt as good as I thought I was, I donโt know,โ he posted on his personal Twitter account.
I got a little buzzed when the European title was offered a few weeks ago, but it’s not in me anymore. I tried to train but the hunger and motivation has long gone. That’s me-done! https://t.co/iZHVz4g36K
โ Dale Evans (@DaleEvans_912) February 21, 2018
โBoxing has been a big part of my life โ it was my life.
โI havenโt achieved what Iโd have like to, but I done alright I guess.โ