Ben Davison, the co-trainer of Fabio Wardley, has addressed criticisms on social media for not throwing in the towel during Wardley’s fight against Daniel Dubois. Fans were surprised by Davison’s decision not to stop the fight as Wardley faced a relentless assault of punches from Dubois in the later rounds.
Acknowledging that the fight could have been halted earlier, Davison explained that he did not witness Wardley struggling to reach the doctor and noted Wardley’s responses to Dubois’ attacks in the 10th and 11th rounds. Dubois, 28, demonstrated resilience by getting up from the canvas twice to defeat Wardley in the 11th round, silencing doubts about his mental toughness.
Despite Wardley knocking Dubois down within 10 seconds of the fight and again in the third round, Dubois staged a comeback, leaving Wardley bloodied before landing a decisive blow in the 11th round, prompting the referee to end the contest.
Critics expressed shock at Davison’s decision to keep Wardley in the fight, emphasizing the imminent danger of a significant, potentially career-altering blow from Dubois.
In response to the backlash, Davison defended his actions, citing the challenges of determining the right moment to intervene in a fight where the fighter is still responsive and fighting back. He highlighted past instances where his timing in throwing in the towel had been both criticized and praised, emphasizing the complexity of such decisions in the heat of battle.
Davison concluded his statement on social media by praising Wardley’s journey from amateur fights to becoming a heavyweight champion, underscoring the difficulty of guiding a fighter against elite competition.
Throughout our platforms, including partners, we use data collected through cookies to enhance user experience, analyze site usage, and deliver personalized ads. You have the option to opt out of data sharing by clicking the designated button on our site. Your use of our services implies consent to our cookie usage, as detailed in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.