Frank Warren: Daniel Dubois could have ended his career if he didn’t concede defeat against Joe Joyce

BY MATT VERRI

Frank Warren insists Daniel Dubois made the right decision when he took a knee and failed to beat the count in his defeat to Joe Joyce.

The Greenwich heavyweight suffered his first professional loss and has since faced criticism for the manner of the defeat, with many believing he quit.

But Dubois’ promoter is in no doubt that the move has saved the 23-year-old’s career.

“I hate to say this, but it’s a good thing he was getting the pain on the nerve,” said Warren. “If he hadn’t, he maybe would have gone on longer in the round.

“It was such excruciating pain and he knew there was something seriously wrong. He would have been pulled out at the end of the round anyway.”

The level of swelling Dubois suffered to his left eye meant that the diagnosis on his injuries has taken longer than usual.

Warren has said that the specialists believe further trauma to his swollen shut eye could have led to career-ending double vision.

“He has left medial and orbital floor fractures, and the specialist said there was a haemorrhage to his retina,” Warren told iFL TV.

“Fortunately it was stopped, because otherwise the eyeball could have gone back due to the fractures and he would have had a detached retina.

“He’s going to see another specialist this week, but he’s not able to do any training or physical activity. He’ll probably be out for a good five months I would think.”

Rival promoter Eddie Hearn had cast doubt on Dubois’ injuries but Warren hit back: “No-one is telling lies about something as serious as this.

“Daniel was not lying, and nor was anyone else connected with this, as certain people have suggested. We want to put the record straight.”