In an extraordinary turn of events,
Daniel Dubois survived two knockdowns , the first after just 10 seconds, to dethrone a bloodied but courageous Fabio Wardley in the 11th round of an exciting boxing heavyweight classic and become a two-time world champion.
Wardley floored his fellow Briton early with a flush right hand and dropped him again in the third, before Dubois regrouped and responded with wave after wave of heavy shots.
The Ipswich fighter, his nose damaged and one eye swollen shut, staggered around the ring yet somehow stayed on his feet and continued to fire back.
As the contest drifted into uncomfortable territory, the referee had eventually seen enough and halted the fight. A distraught Wardley sank to his knees as Dubois celebrated capturing the WBO heavyweight title.
“It was a war, thank you Fabio for that, thank you. I know I’ve got heart, bundles of heart. I’m a warrior in there,” Dubois told DAZN.
“I had to get back up, bounce it off and come back harder. I’m a warrior.”
In a week when Dubois’ mentality was questioned, the 28-year-old silenced his critics with a clinical display of power.
Dubois picked up his 23rd professional victory and reasserted himself at the top of the division as Wardley, 31, lost for the first time in 22 fights.
With knockout power stacked heavily on both sides, the fight lived up to its ‘don’t blink’ tagline as promoter Frank Warren confirmed there is a rematch clause.
Having arrived an hour later than the champion to the venue because of Manchester traffic, Dubois made a brisk, business-like ring walk.
Wardley, in his first appearance since being upgraded to world champion, soaked in the atmosphere with a leisurely entrance. Draped in an Ipswich Town Football Club robe, he was greeted by a warm reception from the 18,000-strong crowd.
With a combined record of 42 wins – 40 coming by knockout – there was palpable anticipation inside the arena, and Wardley stayed true to his promise to bring the action early as Dubois hit the canvas after a flush right hand.
Dubois winked to his corner but looked shell-shocked. He wrestled Wardley to the ground as both fighters swung for the hills.
Many expected Dubois to impose himself early before Wardley could settle. Considered the better technical boxer, he regrouped and landed a right in the second.
Momentum swung again in the third when a Wardley overhand right sent Dubois wobbling. Dubois took a knee and survived the count before firing back with a right hand that rocked Wardley.
The fighters and fans struggled to catch a breath as trainer Don Charles urged Dubois to lean on his jab.
Dubois’ left eye was swollen, but Wardley’s face looked a mess as Dubois landed his biggest shots in the fourth and the sixth.
Wardley, who was working in recruitment a decade ago, showed an extraordinary chin and heart as he refused to go down despite his legs trembling and blood pouring down his face.
Most would likely have been withdrawn by their corner, but Wardley has built a reputation on dramatic comebacks. This time, however, it felt different.
The doctor inspected Wardley’s injuries before the eighth round and allowed him to continue.
By the ninth, the referee looked ready to intervene as Wardley continued to absorb heavy punishment and the contest became increasingly difficult to watch.
When the stoppage finally came in the 11th, there was almost a sense of relief. A sensational fight had reached its conclusion.
