Daniel Dubois produced a dramatic comeback to defeat Fabio Wardley by stoppage in the 11th round, claiming the WBO world heavyweight title at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
Wardley, the defending champion, exploded out of the blocks and rocked Dubois twice in the opening rounds — including a huge right hook inside the first 10 seconds. Dubois looked shaken early, but he steadied himself, answered with heavy shots and gradually shifted momentum as the fight wore on.
The contest turned into a bruising war. Dubois nearly ended it in the sixth when he landed a barrage that left Wardley bloodied and wobbling on the ropes, yet the champion refused to go down. Blood and a deep cut around Wardley’s nose became a visible testament to the punishment he took, but the Ipswich supporter kept coming and survived into the later rounds.
Dubois kept the pressure up, landing stiff jabs and his feared right hook repeatedly. In the 11th, a furious sequence of punches forced referee Howard Foster to step in and halt the bout, handing Dubois the title and ending Wardley’s reign.
Afterwards Dubois praised his opponent’s toughness and reflected on the victory: it was a war, he said, thanking Wardley for a great fight and adding that he would continue to improve as champion. Promoter Frank Warren confirmed the contract contains a rematch clause and described the contest as one of the best heavyweight fights he has promoted.
The night had begun badly for Dubois off the ring as well as in it. Reports said he was delayed on the way to the arena, recalling the late arrival that preceded his stoppage loss to Oleksandr Usyk. In the ring, Wardley’s fast start — his brutal opening right — put immediate pressure on Dubois, who at one point lunged in and even tackled Wardley to the canvas during the early chaos.
Dubois recovered in the second and third rounds after being dropped again in the third, showing grit as he rose and fought back with heavy, accurate punches. He began to take control from round four onward, with repeated right hands and a growing command of range. Wardley’s power and resilience kept him dangerous throughout, and his habit of coming back when hurt was on display again, but eventually the accumulation of blows was too much.
Sky Sports commentary described the night as a contest of raw brutality. Dubois answered a string of questions about his temperament and composure that had followed him since previous defeats by proving he could recover from early adversity and then dominate. Wardley, who rose from a white-collar boxing background to become a professional champion, showed the toughness that has characterised his rise, but could not withstand Dubois’s sustained power late in the fight.
Dubois’ team were visible in the corner throughout, giving instructions and urging their fighter on after a slow start. The victory marks a major comeback moment for Dubois, who now says he wants to develop further and establish himself as the WBO champion.
Referee stoppage in the 11th preserved Wardley from further punishment and sealed a dramatic night in Manchester — one that earned both fighters praise for courage and produced calls for an immediate rematch.