LONDON -- Fabio Wardley's team were unhappy with what they perceived as rough tactics by Daniel Dubois' in their first heavyweight battle in May.
Dubois climbed off the canvas twice to stop Wardley in Round 11 in Manchester to become a two-time heavyweight champion and claim the WBO belt.
The pair will rematch in London on Saturday and Michael Ofo, Wardley's manager, told ESPN they will ask officials to watch Dubois' methods that they were unhappy with last time out.
"I wasn't happy with the MMA rugby tackles, there were a few points where he [Dubois] was putting the thumb [out] and sort of pawing in Fabio's face in an effort to open up the cut more," Ofo said.
"A few rabbit shots and leading with the head.
"We're calling for a stronger referee. Fabio's too much of a gentleman to call those things out but my role is to highlight these things.
"As much as it a was a fantastic fight, there were those issues that in the second fight could be the difference between Fabio winning and losing."
Asked if they had raised their concerns with the British Boxing Board of Control, Ofo said: "Yeah and we've said we want someone who's going to deal with it and we're going to be applying a lot of pressure on the referee on the night just to make sure, on both sides, that it's a fair fight."
While the fighters were tame at Thursday's news conference, the two managers threw verbal barbs across the table.
"Fabio had a rematch clause, and I was quite surprised that he instigated it really quickly," Riz Khan, Dubois' manager, said.
"I personally feel [Wardley has] underestimated coming into this fight so soon after the first fight.
"Daniel is stronger, fitter, sharper, leaner than what he was in the first fight.
"We know Fabio is not fully healed from his injuries, that's my personal opinion. He'a going to try to take Daniel out in the first few rounds. Daniel's going to be ready to knock Fabio out, in my opinion, before Round 5."