LONDON — Don Charles, the head coach of Daniel Dubois, has rejected suggestions that Fabio Wardley should retire from boxing following his second-round stoppage defeat last Saturday. The comments come after IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic publicly encouraged Wardley to hang up his gloves, citing the cumulative damage sustained in recent high-intensity bouts.
Wardley’s most recent outing saw him stopped in the second round after Dubois landed a heavy overhand right within the opening 20 seconds. The contest was brought to a halt by trainer Ben Davison, who threw in the towel to prevent further punishment. This follows their previous encounter in May, where Dubois secured an 11th-round stoppage victory after Wardley had initially scored two early knockdowns.
Speaking to Playbook Boxing, Charles criticised Hrgovic’s stance, labelling it "unfair." He drew a comparison to the career of Filip Hrgovic, who recently claimed the IBF title with a ninth-round finish against Moses Itauma. "What Fabio needs is a long, hard rest. Let the others smash each other up. Then he can come back again," Charles stated.
The debate surrounding Wardley’s future highlights the physical demands placed on heavyweight contenders. While Hrgovic has questioned the longevity of his peers, Charles remains firm that a period of recuperation is the appropriate course of action for the Ipswich fighter. The perspective offered by Charles contrasts with the recent assessment provided by Filip Hrgovic regarding the future of heavyweight prospects.