Fabio Wardley camp frustrated with referee’s performance in title bout
Fabio Wardley’s camp has voiced frustration over the refereeing during Saturday’s WBO heavyweight championship bout against Daniel Dubois, which ended in an 11th-round stoppage defeat for the Ipswich fighter, reports BritPanorama.
The team believes official Howard Foster failed to adequately penalise Dubois for what they describe as numerous illegal strikes throughout the contest in Manchester. Wardley sent his opponent to the canvas on two occasions during the opening rounds but ultimately lost his world title in a punishing encounter.
His representatives maintain that the considerable facial injuries sustained by Wardley resulted from repeated fouls, particularly multiple headbutts, which they feel warranted firmer intervention from the referee.
Beyond the concerns about illegal blows, Wardley’s representatives are also demanding answers regarding a specific incident during the seventh round. They want the British Boxing Board of Control to clarify why Foster intervened to halt the action just ten seconds before the bell, at a moment when Wardley had landed a series of heavy punches and appeared to have Dubois in trouble.
The timing of this intervention has raised questions within the Wardley camp about whether their fighter was denied an opportunity to capitalise on his opponent’s vulnerability. Interestingly, Wardley’s trainer Ben Davison offered a contrasting perspective on Foster’s performance in a social media statement released on Sunday. “I think Howard Foster got it bang on from his terms,” Davison wrote, whilst simultaneously acknowledging the contest might have been concluded sooner.
The trainer admitted he had not witnessed Wardley stumble as he rose from his stool ahead of the tenth round, by which point his fighter had already been assessed by the ringside doctor and appeared more stable. Davison described the challenge of knowing precisely when to intervene as “such a difficult job” when a boxer remains responsive and continues throwing punches.
Despite suffering the first defeat of his professional career, Wardley retains the option to face Dubois again thanks to a rematch clause written into the fight contract. Promoter Frank Warren confirmed this provision exists and indicated he would be willing to stage a second meeting between the two heavyweights. However, Warren urged caution regarding the timing of any potential return bout. “It’s up to them. It’s up to the fighters,” Warren told Sky Sports when discussing the possibility of a rematch.
As the dust settles on this fiercely contested fight, questions linger over the implications for both fighters. The complexities of officiating in boxing remain a hot topic, reminding us of the fine line between competition and controversy, a nuance that defines the sport itself.
