Daniel Dubois Dethrones Fabio Wardley With 11th-Round Knockout In Manchester

Daniel Dubois dethroned Fabio Wardley in the 11th round at Co-op Live in Manchester, becoming a two-time WBO world heavyweight champion after surviving two knockdowns and then forcing the referee to halt the fight.

“Daniel Dubois survived two knockdowns - the first after just 10 seconds - to dethrone a bloodied but courageous Fabio Wardley in the 11th round of a thrilling heavyweight classic and become a two-time world champion”

BBC

The contest began with Wardley dropping Dubois after just 10 seconds and then sending him down again in the third, before Dubois regrouped and answered with wave after wave of heavy shots.

BBC

BBC Sport described Wardley as bloodied but courageous as his nose was damaged and one eye swollen shut, yet he staggered around the ring and continued to fire back.

The referee eventually saw enough and halted the fight as Wardley sank to his knees while Dubois celebrated capturing the WBO heavyweight title.

Dubois told DAZN, "It was a war, thank you Fabio for that, thank you. I know I've got heart, bundles of heart. I'm a warrior."

The Guardian’s live account said referee Howard Foster jumped between the fighters to rescue Wardley 28 seconds into the penultimate round, describing a stoppage that came after Wardley had been examined twice by the ringside doctor.

In the same Guardian report, Wardley’s condition was framed in stark terms as his face became "a mask of blood pouring from his badly cut and broken nose" before the fight was stopped.

Boxing News Online

After the stoppage, Dubois said, "It was a war, thank you Fabio for that. Yeah [I've silenced doubters]. I know I've got heart. I'm a warrior in there," on DAZN.

Carl Frampton, quoted by the Daily Express, said, "It was a brilliant fight, the most brutal fight, definitely. We all expected something a bit special, but who could have expected that."

The BBC also reported that promoter Frank Warren confirmed there is a rematch clause, keeping the door open for another fight after Wardley’s first loss in 22 fights.

With Dubois taking the WBO belt, the BBC said the victory added another defining chapter to a career shaped by setbacks, including defeats by Joe Joyce and twice to Oleksandr Usyk.

“Having expressed a keen interest in fighting the winner, Oleksandr Usyk has delivered his final verdict on Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois”

Boxing News Online

TheSportster said it was "very unlikely" Dubois would get a third crack at Oleksandr Usyk, while also naming Moses Itauma as the mandatory challenger for the WBO belt Dubois had just acquired.

TheSportster also reported that Fabio Wardley has a rematch clause in his contract after agreeing to face Dubois in a voluntary defense, though it said it was "currently unclear" if Wardley would exercise the option.

In a separate preview, TheSportster noted that the fight was on a Queensberry Promotions pay-per-view card at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, with Wardley making the first defence of his WBO world title.

BBC Sport added that Wardley, 31, lost for the first time in 22 fights, while Dubois, 28, picked up his 23rd professional victory and reasserted himself at the top of the division.