Daniel Dubois seizes WBO title with Fabio Wardley beatdown to silence critics

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – Daniel Dubois is a two-time world heavyweight champion after stopping WBO titleholder Fabio Wardley in round 11 of their heavyweight war.

What transpired at the Co-op Live in Manchester was a heavyweight slugfest, two Wardley knockdowns had him in control, but Dubois was determined to keep pushing.

As the fight progressed, Dubois’ power was breaking through and left Wardley in a bloodied mess.

This is what happened in a heavyweight battle for the ages.

Wardley strikes first with two knockdowns, but Dubois powers through

Dubois came charging out of his corner, but Wardley landed the first blow, a right hand put ‘Dynamite’ on the canvas. Meeting referee Howard Foster’s count, Dubois nearly struck with a right of his own.

Dubois decided to rugby tackle Wardley, and after an ever so brief lull, punches were being traded and they were being felt by the thousands in attendance at the Co-op Live.

Wardley, as the defending champion, was more relaxed when it came to throwing his punches, while Dubois felt tense and had an unnecessary snap to his shots. He let out a loud grunt when attempting to back Wardley into a corner in the second.

As the session entered its final minute, Dubois stunned Wardley with his jab, the punch which many believed would be crucial in this heavyweight war.

If there was one weakness for Dubois to exploit, it would be Wardley’s overhand right, but Dubois was struggling to be quick, get inside and put the WBO titleholder in all sorts of trouble.

Dubois clubbed a right to the body in the third, but Wardley struck back with an overhand right which forced Dubois to take a knee. He once again met the referee’s count, and any questions about Wardley’s power had now vanished.

Wardley still had to be careful, while wounded, Dubois continued to carry a threat and wobbled the defending champion with a right in the closing stages of round three.

An exchange in the first minute of the fourth saw Dubois strike again, this time with a straight right, and Wardley needed time to recover. Dubois’ success continued, quick combinations in the corner had Wardley on the back foot who chose to clinch for some brief respite.

Wardley was hit with a thumping jab in the opening seconds of the fifth, and momentum was swinging Dubois’ way. He was keeping Wardley quiet with swelling appearing on his right cheek. Wardley’s supporters tried their best to cheer him on, sensing the tide was beginning to turn at the halfway stage.

Momentum swings towards Dubois as he continues Wardley beatdown

Dubois continued on the front foot in round six, Wardley struggling to move out of the way of ‘Dynamite’. With a swollen left eye, Dubois marched forward and cracked Wardley’s nose with blood streaming out of it.

Wardley was in a daze, and the sight of blood spurred Dubois on who was teeing off with ease. How Wardley was still standing, nobody knows, but a bit of his spirit had left his body following the assault.

The seventh round kicked off with a Dubois one-two which sent Wardley flying. The WBO defending champion’s face was now red with blood, but as Dubois methodical right hand was making a home for itself on Wardley’s head.

The last 20 seconds of round seven had the whole arena on its feet with both men going hell for leather. Oddly this thrilling exchange was brought to an abrupt end after referee Foster mistaken the 10-second clapper for the bell.

After a minute past in the eighth, Dubois caught Wardley in the corner with a left-right combination. Wardley was silent when it came to throwing anything in response and he was left back pedalling with around 15 seconds remaining after eating a Dubois jab.

At the start of the ninth, Wardley, despite his face beating beaten to a pulp, was deemed fit to continue by the ringside doctor. Dubois continued to add more battle scars.

Wardley’s nose was bleeding again, and his right eye began to close, combine that with the shaky legs and he was on unsteady ground. Somehow, Wardley kept on coming and managed to land blows, but they had little effect on Dubois who thrived in this battle.

The ringside doctor once again checked a one-eyed Wardley at the start of round 10, and the fight continued.

Tiredness had crept in. Neither man was as quick or intense with their punches, but Dubois punctuated the end of the session with a right hand leaving Wardley clinging on to the challenger.

Dubois finally ended this beatdown 30 seconds into the eleventh round, backing Wardley into the neutral corner, landing another brutal right, forcing referee Foster to intervene and stop the contest.

A heavyweight fight for the ages

Just over a month on since Moses Itauma dispatched Jermaine Franklin, Dubois and Wardley produced another memorable night of heavyweight boxing.

Wardley and Dubois left it all in the ring, and after promoter Frank Warren called this bout Britain’s answer to Hagler-Hearns, it lived up to the billing.

Dubois now finds himself back at the top of the heavyweight ladder, and some great fights await, but Saturday’s showing saw him silence those who doubted his heart and determination when the going got tough.

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