Tony Bellew has always firmly been of the belief that a fighter should continue until they win or are stopped.
The topic of quitting in boxing is a controversial one. Some people believe that it is better to bow out and live to fight another day, others firmly believe that there should be no way a boxer gives in regardless of their injuries.
There have been famous cases of fighters who should have retired on their stools carrying on with wild injuries and managing to win regardless – one involved heavyweight Danny Williams fighting with a dislocated arm hanging loose from its socket yet managing to knock out his opponent with an uppercut using his good arm.
For some that has tarnished his reputation and Bellew explained why to Lucky Block Casino.
“With Daniel, not just me, everyone has questioned his mental fortitude.
We’ve seen the Joe Joyce fight, he takes a knee and he doesn’t continue. That is a trait in boxing that when that is shown you never really come back from it.
It’s harsh but it’s a fact, once a quitter always a quitter.
I’ve lost friendships over it cause I’ve called fights as I’ve seen them. But it’s got to him what people have said. I don’t think he believes he did quit. He deemed it OK to take that knee. A fractured eye socket is a painful thing, broken jaw, gash, people have done it over the years.
It’s one of them but he’s took it to heart and it’s stood him in good stead.”
Dubois’ heart was questioned once more when, physically exhausted, he allowed himself to be counted out when hit by a jab from Oleksandr Usyk in his first world title challenge.
Since then, Dubois has shown plenty of courage in a tough fight with the 300lbs Jarell Miller who he beat into submission with seconds to go of the 10th and final round. And last time out he weathered an early storm against Filip Hrgpvic in a tough, physical fight that saw him pick up the IBF interim title.
