Daniel Dubois climbs off canvas twice to dismantle Fabio Wardley and win world title in chaotic classic
Dubois was floored in rounds one and three but showed immense heart to turn the tide, stop Wardley, and win the WBO heavyweight title
Daniel Dubois won a chaotic instant classic with Fabio Wardley on Saturday night, climbing off the canvas twice to win the WBO heavyweight title. Wardley dropped his fellow Briton with perhaps the second punch he threw, before putting Dubois down again in the third frame. At that juncture, a victory for the 28-year-old seemed beyond improbable.
But Dubois, a former IBF champion, finally silenced the longstanding questions about his heart to turn the tide. He gradually dismantled Wardley, 31, whose nose was a bloody mess and whose right eye was close to shutting. Daniel Dubois (right) somehow found a way past Fabio Wardley after major adversity early on (Reuters) After the referee seemed to consider stopping the bout a few times, he ultimately awarded Dubois an 11th-round win in Manchester.
With that, Wardley was beaten for the first time. “I know I’ve got heart, bundles of heart,” said Dubois in the ring after the fight. “I’m a warrior in there.
[The first knockdown was a] flash knockdown, you have to get back up and come back harder, man. I’m a warrior. I thank Fabio for a great fight, man.