Daniel Dubois got here again from two knockdowns to deal Fabio Wardley a brutal and bloody first defeat as an expert and take the WBO heavyweight title in a thunderous all-British conflict on Saturday.
Referee Howard Foster belatedly stepped in initially of the eleventh spherical to sign the top of the struggle with Wardley bleeding closely from the bridge of the nostril and along with his proper eye nearly closed.
“It was a battle. We got here by the sticky moments. Thanks Fabio for that,” mentioned Dubois, who was beforehand IBF champion after the belt was vacated by Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, with the Ukrainian profitable it again in July 2025.
“What an ideal struggle. What an ideal battle, man”.
The win was Dubois’s twenty third as an expert in 26 fights whereas Wardley now has a 20-1-1 file.
Veteran promoter Frank Warren, who manages each males, mentioned it was the very best heavyweight struggle he had ever placed on and confirmed there was a rematch clause within the contract.
For some viewers, nevertheless, it was additionally an uncomfortable watch that would have been stopped earlier.
Fabio Wardley (left) was brutalised in his world heavyweight title defence. (Getty Photos: PA Photos/Richard Sellers)
“I believe it was uncomfortable at instances,” Richie Woodhall, former WBC super-middleweight world champion informed the BBC.
“We all know how powerful Wardley is. We at all times mentioned going into this, he was most likely in with the toughest puncher he is confronted. I am unable to consider the pictures that he took, he by no means hit the canvas.
“The referee’s let that go on too lengthy. Fabio is a sufferer of that.”
Veteran boxing reporter Steve Bunce famous that Wardley’s nook ought to most likely have taken him out of the struggle within the ninth.
“Wardley has by no means been damage like this,” Bunce mentioned.Â
“There’s a case right here for some mercy within the nook, there is a case for withdrawal.
“I do know he is powerful however there are limits. His nook appears very sad, they know what’s imminent.”
Daniel Dubois is now a two-time world heavyweight champion. (Getty Photos: Matt McNulty)
The 31-year-old Wardley, who beat Australian Justis Huni by a Tenth-round KO in June final yr regardless of being comprehensively outboxed all through, was promoted to WBO champion final November after Usyk vacated the title.
This was the Suffolk fighter’s first defence and he as soon as once more confirmed immense coronary heart as he took an incredible beating but refused to capitulate.
He had his opponent on the ground, a blow Dubois, 28, later dismissed as a “flash knockdown”, nearly with the opening bell nonetheless sounding.
Dubois was again on one knee in spherical three however got here near a stoppage within the sixth with the reigning champion bleeding closely and on the ropes.
The Londoner continued to land blow after blow on Wardley, who wobbled however refused to surrender.
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Maybe with that Tenth-round KO in opposition to Huni behind their thoughts, Wardley’s nook inspected the facial wounds after the eighth and medical doctors and the referee took a glance in rounds 9 and 10 however nonetheless the struggle continued, with Wardley more and more struggling to remain on his ft and combating on intuition.
“You witnessed one thing particular tonight,” Warren informed the BBC.Â
“Two males baring their hearts and souls within the ring, gave all the pieces, did not go away one bit outdoors the ring.
“They had been getting hit with bombs that might take individuals out and so they stood it.
“Fights like this, fortunately as a punter you prefer to see them however these are going proper to their soul, they gave all the pieces. The dedication, the need to win, neither of them taking a backwards step. Superb.”
Reuters/ABC
