Fabio Wardley had to reassure his mother, Shonni-leigh, that he was okay after a punishing defeat to Daniel Dubois. The referee halted the contest 28 seconds into the 11th round, with Wardley unable to defend himself any longer.
Wardley's Condition After the Fight
Wardley, 31, remained upright throughout the bout and was never knocked down by Dubois. However, his right eye was swollen shut, impairing his vision, and the bridge of his nose was heavily bleeding, affecting his breathing. After the stoppage, he collapsed to the canvas from exhaustion and relief that the beating was over.
Reassuring His Mother
Once back on his feet, the former champion sought out his mother at ringside. Leaning over the ropes, he repeatedly told her he was fine before sitting down in his corner. Shonni-leigh has always been a constant presence at his fights. In an interview last October, Wardley said: 'She has always been my biggest fan. She's never been one to hide behind her hands. She's always loud at the front of the crowd, on her feet, cheering, shouting.'
Fan Reaction to the Stoppage
British Boxing Board of Control doctors inspected Wardley's injuries three times during the fight but allowed it to continue each time. Many observers believed the fight should have been stopped earlier. One fan told the BBC it was a 'disgrace,' adding they had 'never been so uncomfortable watching a boxing match.' Another accused referee Howard Foster of 'terrible refereeing,' saying the fight 'should have been stopped earlier.'
Fight Summary
Wardley dropped Dubois twice in the opening three rounds, securing two 10-8 rounds and an early lead. However, those were arguably the only rounds he won, as Dubois dominated the remainder of the contest. The consensus is that Wardley lost the later rounds, leaving him significantly behind on the scorecards.
