Wardley’s trainer makes statement after backlash | Boxing News

Fabio Wardley’s co-trainer Ben Davison has taken to social media to issue a statement following criticism for failing to pull his fighter from Saturday’s conflict with Daniel Dubois. Boxing followers had been left shocked that the trainer didn’t throw the towel into the ring as Wardley was pummelled with heavy pictures from Dubois in the closing levels of the bout.

Davison acknowledged the struggle may have been halted earlier, but insisted he didn’t witness Wardley stumble over to the doctor and maintained the defending champion was responding to Dubois’ assault in the tenth and eleventh rounds. The 28-year-old Dubois climbed off the canvas twice to halt Wardley in the eleventh spherical, silencing his critics relating to his own mental fortitude.

Wardley floored Dubois in just 10 seconds, connecting with his opening punch of the competition, which despatched shockwaves around the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester, before he hit the deck again in the third spherical. Nevertheless, he rallied and left Wardley’s face bruised and bloodied, unleashing a devastating proper hand in the eleventh as Howard Foster intervened to wave off the struggle.

Some followers had been astonished that Davison allowed his fighter to stay in the ring for that period, with it doable that Dubois was poised to ship a large, doubtlessly life-altering blow.

Davison has beforehand earned plaudits for his impeccable timing when throwing in the towel, enabling Tyson Fury to get back on his ft and knock out Deontay Wilder on a historic evening, while also protecting Leigh Wood in the ring for his triumph over Michael Conlan.

In a statement posted on his Instagram web page, Davison said: “On last night, firstly congratulations to Dubois. Two tremendous warriors in a modern day classic. We are super proud of Fabio. I actually agree the fight could have been stopped earlier. I did not see Fabio stumble before walking over to the doctor at the start of round 10.

“As satirically, we had been discussing with each other to ‘have the towel in hand.’ By which time he had gone over and seen the doctor and appeared a lot steadier on his legs, which is what we noticed. It’s such a tough job to not only discover a steadiness but to striker at the best time to stop a struggle like that on a whim when your man is responsive and firing back.

“I’ve been praised for not towelling Fury (Wilder). I was praised for not towelling Wood (Conlan). I was firstly criticised, then later praised for towelling Wood (Lara). Two occasions we looked at it but one, the end of the round came, two Fabio fired back and killed Dubois’ momentum. Again, very difficult in the circumstances of the fighter being responsive and firing back.

“I’ve seen blended opinions on this one but I agree it COULD have been stopped earlier. However with that said, I believe Howard Foster acquired it bang on from his phrases.

“Very easy to forget what Fabio has achieved. From four white collar fights to heavyweight champion of the world. Not an easy task to to or for us to help guide against the best in the world. Never been done before, never be done again.”