Port Glasgow boxer Grant Quigley opens up on near-tragedy

The major scare happened during a recent exhibition contest between Grant and Luis Palmer.

The Sheffield boxer was treated in the ring at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow after local fighter Grant landed a heavy blow at the end of the fifth round.

His 28-year-old opponent, who was fighting in his fourth professional contest, was rushed to hospital suffering from a bleed on the brain.

Palmer's manager, former world champion Junior Witter, says the father-of-two has since regained consciousness 'but still has a long way to go'.

In September 2016 Grant was on the bill in an event where a fighter was seriously injured in the ring and tragically died the next day.

The Commonwealth Youth Games silver medallist says the latest experience brought back painful memories of that night - and he is hugely relieved that history did not repeat itself.

Grant, 27, said: "I was worried sick.

"I've had experience of this because I fought on the same show as Mike Towell when he was seriously injured.

"What happened to Mike was in my mind as he died the next day of the same thing, a brain bleed.

"I was really concerned that the same thing was going to happen to Luis. I'm so relieved he's making a recovery.

"It was tragic and it took away any joy from the fight.

"I'm so pleased he is getting better, I thank God for that."

Grant said he was shocked by the aftermath of the blow.

He added: "It wasn't as if Luis had taken a lot of punishment.

"Even though I was winning, he was still very much in the contest and was catching me with some decent shots.

"In the fifth round I hurt him with a solid jab and it wobbled him a bit.

"I went in to finish off the fight and caught him with a big left hook, he tried to slip a blow and as he came up I timed it perfectly with a really big shot.

"I think it was more about the way in which it landed. It was a heavy shot but more about the timing of it.

"I've been told he remembers plenty about the fight, which is positive. A lot of times when something like this happens, the fighter can't recall anything about the bout.

"The fact he's recalling stuff, speaking and he's up on his feet is really positive."

The St Andrew's Sporting Club contest was Quigley's comeback fight after five and a half years out of the ring.

He says the experience hasn't deterred him from continuing in the sport he loves, with another contest lined up for June 2 at the same venue.

He told the Tele: "It's not put me off boxing.

"I've processed it mentally and I'm at peace with everything that's happened, knowing that Luis is okay.

"It's an occupational hazard and this was a freak accident.

"I had a week off from training to process it, but it's not going to hinder me."

Kind Quigley has donated to an online Justgiving page set up to support Luis's family. The appeal has already raised more than £4,850.

He said: "I wanted to set up a page myself for Luis but was really pleased that one had been established already.

"It's great that there have been so many donations, there has been a lot of support from people."

Quigley says the near-tragedy highlights how dangerous boxing can be.

He said: "It's scary because when things like this happen, you realise it isn't a game, it's a really serious sport.

"People say before a fight if you're really nervous 'what's the worst that can happen? You'll get beat, it won't kill you'.

"But in professional boxing it quite literally could kill you."

Anyone who would like to donate to the fundraiser for Luis Palmer can visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/peter-highton?utm_term=YGwQ7AqWd