Wardley vs Dubois: Londoner captures WBO world title in an all-time classic heavyweight fight
Daniel Dubois survived two knockdowns (the first after just 10 seconds) to dethrone the bloody but courageous Fabio Wardley and become a two-time world champion in the 11th round of a thrilling heavyweight classic.
Wardley knocked his fellow Briton down with a right hand early on and dropped him again in the third round; Dubois then regrouped and responded with heavy waves of fire.
With a damaged nose and a swollen eye, the Ipswich fighter staggered around the ring but somehow stayed on his feet and continued to fight back.
As the bout dragged to an uncomfortable point, the referee eventually saw enough and stopped the fight. A distraught Wardley fell to his knees as Dubois celebrated winning the WBO heavyweight title.
Dubois, 28, silenced his critics with a clinical display of power in the 23rd victory of his professional career and reasserted his place at the top of the league.
Wardley, 31, lost for the first time in 22 fights; The famous fighter who rose from the legendary climb of unlicensed white collars by hitting the barricade.
With heavy knockout power stacked on both sides, the fight lived up to the “don’t blink” motto, with promoter Frank Warren confirming there was a rematch clause.
