Tyson Fury trainer Ben Davison defends Rob McCracken over Anthony Joshua ‘concussion’ revelation

The Team GB coach was accused by a breain injury charity of putting AJ’s life at risk by allowing him to continue beyond the third round of their June fight

Jack Rathborn
Friday 13 September 2019 10:24 BST
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Bob Arum says the fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder will get four million views

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Tyson Fury’s trainer Ben Davison has defended Rob McCracken after the storm over his concussion revelation concerning Anthony Joshua.

The Team GB coach admitted to knowing the former world heavyweight champion was “concussed” after the third round of his fight with Andy Ruiz Jr in June with brain injury charity Headway heavily criticising his revelation.

Joshua persevered despite suffering two knockdowns in the third before eventually being stopped in the seventh by the Mexican-American to lose his world titles in a stunning upset.

After allowing AJ to continue, McCracken has come under fire, but Davison believes every fighter who suffers a knockdown may suffer some form of concussive effect, making the trainer’s job difficult.

“I don’t think the people who have criticised Rob have any knowledge or experience of boxing,” Davison told BBC Sport.

“When a fighter goes down I would imagine that has some form of concussive effect every time.

“If Rob is to get pulled up and blamed or criticised then I need criticising too because Tyson got knocked down against Deontay Wilder in round nine and 12 and I allowed it to carry on. So if he is getting criticised I need it as well.”

Joshua during his loss to Ruiz Jr in June
Joshua during his loss to Ruiz Jr in June (Getty)

Davison is training the Gypsy King for his fight against Otto Wallin on Saturday.

Should the Brit emerge victorious, he is set to have another crack at WBC world champion Deontay Wilder, having fought to a draw in last year’s thrilling first fight.

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