In a pulsating all-British heavyweight showdown at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, Daniel Dubois dethroned Fabio Wardley with an 11th-round stoppage to become a two-time WBO world champion.
The fight lived up to its “Don’t Blink” billing from the opening bell. Wardley, making his first defense of the WBO title he claimed via dramatic comebacks against Joseph Parker and others, dropped Dubois with a huge right hand inside 15 seconds of round one. Dubois rose and the war escalated, with both men trading heavy artillery. Wardley scored another knockdown in round three, but Dubois’ superior boxing and jab gradually took control.
By the middle rounds, Wardley’s nose bled heavily and his eye swelled, yet the champion showed incredible heart, absorbing punishment while firing back. Dubois, 22-3 (21 KOs), methodically broke him down with crisp combinations and power shots. In round 10, Wardley’s legs buckled under sustained pressure from the challenger.
The finish came in round 11. A thunderous right hand from Dubois sent Wardley stumbling and turning away. The referee waved it off, crowning “Dynamite” Dubois once more. The 28-year-old Londoner, who had lost his previous world title to Oleksandr Usyk, now positions himself as a major force in the division.
Wardley (20-1-1) proved his toughness in a Fight of the Year candidate, but Dubois’ skill and resilience prevailed. British heavyweight boxing delivered another unforgettable night.
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