Daniel Dubois recovered from two early knockdowns to stop Fabio Wardley in the 11th round and claim the WBO heavyweight title in a blood-soaked contest at the Manchester Arena. Referee Howard Foster intervened 28 seconds into the penultimate round as Wardley, his face masked in blood from a badly cut and broken nose, was examined twice by the ringside doctor before the stoppage.
Dubois, who was knocked down in the opening 10 seconds and again in the third round, dominated the rounds in which he was not floored. The fight was a see-saw slugfest, with both men showing extraordinary durability and heart. Promoter Frank Warren called it the best heavyweight fight he had ever staged.
Criticism emerged over the timing of the stoppage, with some observers arguing that Wardley should have been saved from his own bravery earlier. The champion was seen swaying at the start of the 10th round, and former champions Darren Barker and Carl Frampton expressed concern. Frampton described the sight of Wardley stumbling into the fray as 'sickening'.
Wardley, reassuring his family post-fight that he was 'all right', left the ring with clear eyes but a severely damaged face. Dubois, gracious in victory, praised his opponent: 'That was a war, thank you Fabio. He's a warrior.'
The result reshuffles Britain's heavyweight scene, with Dubois now holding a version of the world title for the second time. Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and rising star Moses Itauma remain in the mix, though Itauma is yet to prove himself at the highest level.
