Sports · Combat Sports · 1 hr ago
Referee rejects corner’s towel twice before stopping Garber-Olaniyan bout
Referee Amy Pu twice rejected Dan Garber’s corner’s attempts to stop the fight against Adam Olaniyan at London’s O2 Arena.
The bout was on the undercard of Daniel Dubois’ rematch with Fabio Wardley.
Garber’s corner threw in the towel after Olaniyan knocked him down in the second round, but Pu kicked it out and let the fight continue.
Olaniyan knocked Garber down again, and the referee eventually stopped the bout after another towel was thrown.
Garber received oxygen at ringside, and the decision drew criticism online.
Under British boxing rules, a towel does not automatically end a fight because the referee has authority to stop the contest.
The incident has raised concerns about the damage Garber took, but no further action is stated.
Referee Amy Pu refused twice to accept Dan Garber’s corner’s towel during his heavyweight bout with Adam Olaniyan at London’s O2 Arena.
Olaniyan knocked Garber down in the second round, and the corner threw in the towel after the knockdown.
Pu kicked the towels out and allowed the fight to continue, despite a second knockdown and another towel throw.
She eventually stopped the bout, and Garber received oxygen ringside afterward.
- Who
- Irish heavyweight Adam Olaniyan fought British heavyweight Dan Garber. Amy Pu was the referee.
- What
- Pu twice rejected Garber’s corner’s attempts to stop the fight with a towel before eventually stopping the bout.
- When
- October 17, 2026.
- Where
- The O2 Arena in London.
- Why
- Garber’s corner sought to end the fight after Olaniyan knocked him down. The sources do not state why Pu rejected the towels.
Dan Garber’s corner
Referee Amy Pu
Ending the fight
Dan Garber’s corner
The corner threw in the towel twice to stop the bout.
Referee Amy Pu
Pu rejected both towel throws and allowed the fight to continue.
Authority to stop the bout
Dan Garber’s corner
The corner’s actions showed it wanted the fight ended.
Referee Amy Pu
Pu eventually waved off the bout; the Independent reported that referees have authority to end a fight and that a towel does not automatically stop it under BBBofC regulations.
Olaniyan knocked Garber down with a body shot, and Garber’s corner threw in a towel.
Pu kicked out the towel and allowed the fight to continue.
Olaniyan knocked Garber down again, and his corner threw in another towel.
Pu continued the count before waving off the bout; Garber received oxygen ringside.
- Referee
- Amy Pu
- Boxers
- Adam Olaniyan and Dan Garber
- Venue
- The O2 Arena, London
- Towel throws
- Garber’s corner threw in the towel twice
- Result
- Olaniyan won; the Independent reported his professional record became 5-0
- Garber’s record
- 14-10 after the bout, according to the Independent
3 sources
Britain's only female boxing referee faces backlash as she REFUSES to accept fighter's towel being thrown in twice - moments before technical knockout by a brutal headshot at the O2 Arena
Boxing referee Amy Pu refuses to accept two towel throws seconds before heavyweight is KO’d
Referee refuses boxer’s towel twice before knockout on Dubois v Wardley 2 undercard
What people are saying
Dan Garber receiving oxygen after referee Amy Pu inexplicably refuses the corner’s towel and allows Olaniyan to pile more damage in.
Rules should be changed to make the towel coming in an automatic fight ended. Ref’s don’t know what’s been happening in the gym.