Frank Warren has fired back at rival promoter Eddie Hearn’s suggestion that his heavyweight hope Daniel Dubois ‘didn’t fancy it’ in his shock loss to Joe Joyce on Saturday night.
Dubois stayed down in the 10th round after suffering a serious injury to his left eye with scans later revealing a fractured orbital bone and nerve damage.
In the fallout from the big heavyweight fight, Hearn and others queried whether Dubois was looking for a way out after an unexpectedly tough night against an inspired Joyce. But hall-of-fame promoter Warren has poured scorn on those views in a blistering response.
“I’ve been at a fight before and said ‘he’s swallowed’, I’ve been guilty of that,” Warren told The Sun. “But if someone is injured and afterwards you have some twat sitting in his office saying we are all lying about it, I find that a real personal affront. It is a c***ish thing to say about a fighter.
“It is all very well and wise to be clever after the event but who gives a fucking shit what Hearn says? Who is he to believe anything?
“I do not agree in any shape or form that a fighter should be in there to give his life or inflict life or career-damaging injuries to satisfy some twat, so he can go and pass judgement on bravery.
“Daniel’s Peacock Gym has a statue outside for a young man, called Bradley Stone, who gave his life to boxing.
“The doctors have said, if he had carried on, there was a strong chance of losing or having problems with his eyesight,” continued Warren. “He would have been in the same position as Anthony Ogogo [whose career was ended by an eye injury].
“Daniel was feeling that pain from early in the fight. Rather than people criticising him, go back and watch the fight. His eye was closed for at least three rounds. He was in a lot of pain. He did the right thing and I’m glad he did it. I always err on the side of being safe rather than sorry.
“We can all point fingers but it should be about the fighter’s safety. Anyone who thinks a boxer has to lose his eyesight to prove a point does not deserve to play any part in this sport.”