Referee Chris Daley has made a strong defence of his decision to let the beaten fighter, Theophilus Quaye, continue into the 11th round against Gairy St Clair.

Daley was under fire on this website for going to the Ghana corner at interval and ordering Quaye's second out

But the Brisbane referee said late yesterday:

"The second had started un-taping the gloves, and at first I thought, They're going to stop.
"I asked, 'Are you retiring?' I was hoping they would surrender. But the chief second [Akway] said, 'No, we're going on'.

"It became apparent they were stalling, they also scattered ice on the canvas. They were looking for a disqualification out rather than a stoppage. So they could go home and say they were winning until then.

"I told the second to get down or be disqualified. He said the boxer did not have his mouthguard, he had thrown it from the ring.

"As soon as I said, 'He can box without it, then,' the assistant down below took the mouthguard from the water pail and handed it up."

The Ghana towel came in after Quaye took further blows in round 11.

Chris Daley said that had he stopped the fight without Quale being knocked down, there'd have been protests. As it was spectators who didn’t see the towel thrown squarked.

The referee summed up: "I would have instantly stopped it, had the second asked."

Queensland ANBF secretary, Jim Young told FOL that responsibility lay upon the Ghana trainer. "He could have towelled it whenever he wanted," Young said.