Published: 05:15 EDT, 18 October 2026 | Updated: 08:18 EDT, 18 October 2026
It is widely recognized as the ultimate, universally understood sign of submission in combat sports—the moment a corner decides enough is enough and throws the white towel into the canvas to protect their fighter. Yet, during a dramatic undercard clash at the O2 Arena on Saturday night, a professional boxing referee twice refused to accept a corner’s attempt to halt a heavyweight bout, allowing a veteran fighter to absorb a prolonged and brutal beating before finally stepping in to wave off the contest.
The incident occurred during the heavyweight showdown between rising young prospect Adam Olaniyan and 41-year-old veteran Dan Garber. The fight took place in London on the high-profile undercard of Daniel Dubois’ explosive victory over Fabio Wardley. For Garber, a seasoned fighter hailing from Bradford, the night ended in a second-round technical knockout (TKO) defeat.
However, rather than focusing purely on the athletic prowess displayed by the winner or the electric atmosphere of the packed arena, the primary talking point in the aftermath of the event has centered squarely on referee Amy Pu. Controversy erupted after Pu made the extraordinary decision to allow Garber to continue absorbing punishing headshots, even after members of his own training team had physically attempted to throw the fight in and protect their athlete.
Pu, who holds the distinction of being the United Kingdom’s first and only female professional boxing referee, made headlines when video footage showed her actively kicking a towel thrown by Garber’s corner completely out of the ring. Her actions allowed the bout to continue despite the clear visual indicators of distress from the veteran competitor.
In the chaotic moments that followed, Garber—who had initially appeared dismayed by his team’s mid-fight attempt to submit—found himself subjected to further severe punishment. Seconds after the first towel was discarded, 20-year-old Olaniyan unleashed a ferocious flurry of unanswered punches that ultimately sent Garber crashing to the canvas, forcing an definitive end to the contest. Even during this final sequence, a second towel was thrown into the ring by the Bradford fighter’s corner, which was similarly ignored by the official before she finally stepped in to officially halt the bout and wave off the punishing onslaught.
The aftermath of the stoppage left alarming scenes at ringside, with television broadcasts showing Garber receiving oxygen to aid his recovery after absorbing the heavy accumulation of blows.
While overruling a fighter’s corner is technically permissible within the overarching regulatory framework of professional boxing, it remains an exceedingly rare occurrence. According to the regulations stipulated by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), the physical entry of a towel into the ring does not automatically constitute a mandatory or immediate end to a bout. Instead, regulatory guidelines place the ultimate authority and discretion squarely in the hands of the referee, who must judge when a fighter is no longer able to defend themselves safely.
Despite staying within the letter of the rulebook, Pu’s decision-making drew swift and fierce condemnation from boxing fans and pundits alike. Footage of the incident, shared widely across social media platforms by broadcasters DAZN, quickly went viral and sparked a wave of intense debate regarding fighter safety and the role of the referee.
Disturbed viewers took to social media to voice their outrage over the sequence of events. One critical fan wrote on X: "Ref nearly got Dan Garber killed. Kicking the towel out idiot."
Another viewer expressed deep concern over the implications for safety, stating: "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. Refs don’t know what’s been happening in the gym."
Further scrutiny was directed at Pu’s broader officiating record on the night. Another fan commented on the referee’s performance throughout the event, writing: "BBBofC referee Amy Pu has been mostly terrible all night, two stoppages called earlier than they needed to be, kicking the towel out to let Dan Garber take more punishment, this is not new for her."
The controversy brings fresh attention to Pu’s unique journey within the sport. Originally from Taiwan, Pu took up boxing later in life during her 30s while living in London. She steadily transitioned through the ranks before officially qualifying as a professional referee in 2024. Operating in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Pu has previously spoken openly about facing isolated challenges related to her gender and ethnicity, though she had noted positive strides in her professional career.
Speaking about her experiences earlier this year in an interview with the BBC, Pu reflected on the reception she has received since turning professional. "On the professional side, I have to say the reaction has mostly been really positive," Pu said at the time. "During the amateur days, there were some odd comments and stuff. I think one of the hesitations I had before turning professional was also for that reason."
She added: "People have just been so supportive, knock on wood, I haven’t really had any criticism directed at me because of my sex or because of my race. I’m really grateful and I hope that it continues, that people should see me as a referee. They can give me stick as a referee, not as a female Asian referee."
With the chaotic bout now concluded, the trajectories of the two heavyweights continue in opposite directions. The victory further enhances the reputation of rising star Adam Olaniyan, whose unblemished professional record now stands at 5-0 in the early stages of his career. Meanwhile, Dan Garber’s extensive professional record moves to 14 victories against 10 defeats.
Despite the harrowing conclusion to the fight and the intense online backlash directed at the officiating, Garber himself did not appear to harbor any bitterness toward referee Pu’s controversial intervention. Taking to social media in the wake of the bout, the veteran fighter shared a reflective message on Facebook, opting to focus on the financial rewards of the fight and the milestone it represented for his life outside the ring rather than the physical toll of the final round.
"What an experience, took the fight last week and we knew what we was up against but no excuses," Garber wrote.
He continued, hinting at a potential retirement from the sport: "Maybe this is the end now for me, time waits for no-one. Bought 2 houses out of boxing and tonight gets me a 3rd, it’s been a massive part of my life. If it is the end then what a way to go out in front of 20,000."
