Fabio Wardley’s co-trainer, Ben Davison, has addressed criticisms on social media for not throwing in the towel during a recent fight against Daniel Dubois. Fans were surprised by Davison’s decision to let Wardley continue despite facing a barrage of punches from Dubois towards the end of the match.
Davison acknowledged that the fight could have been halted earlier but mentioned that he did not observe Wardley showing signs of distress to warrant immediate intervention. Dubois, aged 28, displayed resilience by overcoming Wardley in the 11th round after being knocked down twice earlier in the match.
Although Wardley initially stunned Dubois with a quick knockdown, Dubois recovered and dominated the later rounds, prompting referee Howard Foster to step in and stop the fight. Fans expressed shock at Davison’s choice to keep Wardley in the ring when it seemed Dubois was on the cusp of delivering a significant blow.
Critics pointed out that Davison’s delay in throwing in the towel may have negatively impacted Wardley’s career. However, Davison has been commended in the past for his timing in similar situations, such as allowing Tyson Fury to secure a victory over Deontay Wilder. In a statement on Instagram, Davison defended his decision-making process during the fight and highlighted the challenges of determining the right moment to stop a match.
Despite differing opinions from fans, Davison agreed that the fight could have been stopped earlier but praised referee Howard Foster for his judgment. He emphasized Wardley’s journey from a novice fighter to a heavyweight champion and the difficulties faced in guiding him against elite opponents.