Fabio Wardley somehow remained on his feet during a relentless assault from Daniel Dubois until referee Howard Foster stepped in to stop the fight in the 11th round. The main event in Manchester lived up to its billing, delivering one of the most savage heavyweight battles in recent memory. Defending champion Wardley scored two early knockdowns, but Dubois handled them well and took control with a stiff jab and increasingly precise power shots. By the ninth round, Wardley was bloodied, swollen, and unsteady on his legs. His extraordinary heart kept him going, but apart from a few wild punches, the action was almost entirely one-sided in favor of Dubois. The contest shifted from thrilling to uncomfortable as the Ipswich fighter continued to absorb punishment. Many observers believed he should have been pulled out when he staggered from his stool to start the 10th round, despite his reputation for ending fights at any moment.
Hall of Fame fighter Barry McGuigan, whose son Shane coached Dubois for part of his career, felt that Wardley’s team had a duty to stop the bout as early as the eighth round. “Absolutely, the corner should have pulled him out at least three rounds before the stoppage,” McGuigan said. “I don’t believe Wardley will ever be the same fighter again. That was an unbelievably exhausting and draining fight, and he absorbed a terrifying amount of punishment because he was so brave.”
Wardley received stitches backstage before heading to the hospital. After the fight, it was revealed that he has a rematch clause allowing him to force a second contest, though that will depend on his recovery and the best course of action moving forward. As for Dubois, the 29-year-old is now a two-time heavyweight world champion who has answered all questions about his resilience in the ring. Outside of a potential rematch with Wardley, there are plenty of attractive options for his first title defense.
