Dubois' Trainer Worries Wardley's Durability Endangers His Future

Daniel Dubois' trainer, Don Charles, has voiced concerns about Fabio Wardley's long-term health, suggesting that Wardley's corner may have put him at risk by allowing their brutal first fight to continue for too long.

Dubois and Wardley engaged in a grueling contest last May, which was eventually stopped in the 11th round after Dubois subjected Wardley to a sustained assault. Wardley's resilience was a notable aspect of the fight, but Charles believes the accumulated punishment could be impacting him ahead of their rematch this Saturday.

Charles questioned the decision-making of Wardley's corner, positing that their hope for Wardley to land a fight-changing punch might have overshadowed the need for intervention. "They let Fabio down a little bit, in my opinion, for his health," Charles stated. He added that while Wardley possesses the ability to turn a fight around with a single punch, there comes a point where safety must take precedence. Charles admitted that after rewatching the fight, he found the extent of the punishment Wardley absorbed to be "really bad."

While Charles's immediate focus during the fight was on Dubois, he maintains that upon reviewing the bout, he felt Wardley's corner should have stepped in sooner. This perspective comes amid renewed scrutiny of the first fight's conclusion, though Wardley himself has defended his team, whom he regards as family, and their commitment to his welfare.

Charles emphasized that Wardley's "all-action" style, while entertaining, might not be conducive to a lengthy career. "You cannot keep fighting gung-ho like that. It catches up with you. It really does, and it chips away at you," he warned, urging a focus on the "bigger picture."

Looking ahead to the rematch, Charles anticipates a more disciplined performance from Dubois, who he believes was caught off guard in their initial encounter. "What you are going to see is a more disciplined display and more alertness," Charles said. "We have rectified that. This time, it is going to be a more disciplined, more dynamic and more technical performance." Charles noted that Dubois has trained for the possibility of a 15-round fight, though he also suggested the rematch could end early.

Charles also raised questions about how Wardley will react when Dubois lands cleanly, particularly if Dubois can replicate the punishing moments from their first fight. "Fabio is made of something else. He is made of steel, that man, the amount of punishment he took and kept taking," Charles acknowledged. However, he added, "it is our duty to recall those entries, to remind him of the pain he felt last May in Manchester. As soon as that bell rings, our duty is to recall that pain."

Charles believes that once Wardley begins to feel that "unbearable pain," the responsibility will fall to him and his corner to make decisions under the referee's supervision. Dubois has recently been announced as the global ambassador for the British performance and lifestyle brand Resonance Energy Wear.