Daniel Dubois survived two knockdowns and a brutal early firefight to stop Fabio Wardley in the eleventh round of a heavyweight war in Manchester.
The WBO heavyweight title clash at Co-op Live looked to be slipping away from Dubois in the opening rounds as Wardley dropped the former world champion twice and threatened to overwhelm him with pure aggression.
Instead, Dubois weathered the storm, gradually broke Wardley down, and eventually forced a dramatic stoppage after eleven savage rounds.
Wardley exploded into the fight by flooring Dubois with the first punch of the contest before both men traded huge shots in a chaotic opening session. Dubois looked vulnerable again in the third when he took another knee after being hurt during another violent exchange.
Despite the early setbacks, Dubois slowly began to regain control as Wardley’s output dipped and the punishment started to accumulate.
Daniel Dubois comeback
By the fourth, the momentum had already started to turn. Dubois hurt Wardley with solid shots and forced visible reactions from the previously unbeaten challenger.
The fifth and sixth rounds saw Dubois take over completely.
Wardley struggled to establish his jab or control the pace as Dubois marched forward behind measured pressure and heavier punches. By the middle rounds, Wardley looked exhausted and badly damaged, particularly around the nose and mouth.
Dubois sensed the fight changing.
The seventh and eighth rounds became a test of survival for Wardley, who somehow continued fighting back despite appearing close to being stopped several times.
What made the contest so dramatic was that Wardley never stopped trying to land the equalizer. Even after being battered for several rounds, he continued swinging back whenever Dubois gave him space.
That danger remained through the ninth as Dubois nearly closed the show in another wild exchange-heavy round, with the full Wardley vs Dubois live results coverage documenting the momentum swings throughout the card.
Fabio Wardley
By the championship rounds, both heavyweights looked exhausted.
Wardley was visibly fading, while Dubois himself appeared drained after throwing so much into his effort. But the difference was that Dubois still carried enough power to end matters.
Dubois landed two clean punches in the eleventh that ended the fight and left Wardley unable to continue after one of the most dramatic heavyweight battles seen in Britain this year.
Frank Warren revealed afterward that a rematch clause exists, leaving the door open for Wardley to seek revenge after suffering the first defeat of his professional career.
The result gives Dubois another major heavyweight victory after recovering from early disaster, while Wardley pushed the former champion to the limit in a fight that could easily produce a second chapter.
WBN’s Wardley vs Dubois scorecard and round-by-round coverage tracked Dubois turning the fight completely around after the early knockdowns.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
