Daniel Dubois completed his latest resurgence with brutal efficiency when he became the WBO world heavyweight champion after stopping Fabio Wardley early in the 11th round of a dramatic and blood-soaked contest. Howard Foster, whose pale blue shirt had turned crimson as if he worked in an abattoir rather than in a boxing ring as a referee, jumped between the courageous fighters to rescue Wardley 28 seconds into the penultimate round.
It was a merciful stoppage because the fallen champion, with his face a mask of blood pouring from his badly cut and broken nose, had been examined twice before by the ringside doctor. Both fighters emerged with enormous credit after an epic battle. Dubois was knocked down twice in the fight, and dropped for the first time 10 seconds after the opening bell, but he came back with commendable resolve. He also proved he was the superior technician as, working behind his thunderous jab, Dubois sank one blow after another into the steadily sagging figure of Wardley. But the 31-year-old from Ipswich, who suffered the first loss of his career, simply refused to surrender or even go down at any point during this riveting battle.
Late Arrival and Early Drama
Dubois had turned up late to the venue. Last July, when he was crushed in his most recent fight by Oleksandr Usyk in five rounds, Dubois's belated arrival at Wembley Stadium was preceded by a party he and his father held at the family home a few hours earlier. It was a disastrous slice of frippery and Dubois was given a pitiless lesson in the realities of heavyweight boxing by the majestic Usyk. The latest Dubois delay, however, was blamed on the clogged Manchester traffic.
He still walked to the ring to Salt-N-Pepa's Whatta Man looking concentrated and full of malevolent intent – with his sheer size helping him to cut an intimidating figure. Wardley, wearing a shimmering blue robe in honour of his beloved Ipswich Town, appeared composed despite the light sheen of sweat on his impassive face as he made the walk of the defending champion.
A chant of “Oh, Fabio Wardley” rang around the venue just before the fighters were introduced. The crowd then produced an even more raucous reaction when Wardley's name was hollered by the ring announcer. He raised a right arm in solemn appreciation of their support. A huge roundhouse punch from that same right hand floored a stunned Dubois with the first punch of the fight. It caught him on the top of his head but Dubois rose to his feet, looking relatively unscrambled. He fought back and, in his urgency, crashed into Wardley. Both fighters went tumbling to the canvas.
Resurgence and Relentless Pressure
A sharp right from Dubois landed with jolting impact in round two in the first clear sign that, in spite of his blistering start, Wardley was in for a long night. But, midway through the third, Dubois was dumped on the seat of his trunks again by another heavy right hand to the temple. When the blow landed he tottered backwards and collapsed to the canvas. In the past Dubois had been dismissed as a quitter and a coward. Those shameful insults should never be directed at any fighter and Dubois was determined to prove his heart as he came roaring back.
The next seven rounds became a moving testament to the even greater courage of Wardley as, round after blurring round, he absorbed punishment. He still rocked Dubois on many occasions but the damage was far worse for Wardley.
A monstrous right hand from Dubois hurt Wardley – and he repeated the punch a minute later as the champion started to slip down into sustained trouble. Wardley's face was swollen from the fifth round and a straight left sent the gumshield flying from his mouth. He was afforded momentary respite as Foster retrieved the mouthpiece; but Wardley was being forced to dig deep into his reserves of resolve.
Blood and Determination
Both fighters were drenched in sweat which flew across the ring whenever another hard blow landed. Wardley's nose began to weep with blood as he pawed forlornly at the steady trickle. The stricken champion was pinned against the ropes, his rickety legs threatening to buckle completely beneath him as Dubois kept pummelling him. The course of this ferocious fight had shifted irrevocably and in the seventh it looked as if the stoppage might come soon.
A right cross sank into Wardley's battered face. But then, incredibly, he fought back and suddenly it was Dubois' turn to be punished. Foster was booed when he separated the fighters just as Wardley threatened to regain some form of parity.
In round eight Dubois hurt Wardley again in the champion's corner as the beating elicited concerned groans at ringside. Wardley spat out a tracer of blood but his hands hung limply at his sides. A left made him totter backwards and he was speared against the ropes as the bell sounded for the end of another difficult round.
Medical Checks and Final Assault
Early in the ninth Foster led Wardley towards the doctor, who examined the grotesque wound on his nose. He was eventually allowed to resume and, as brave as ever, Wardley kept fighting. The crowd sang their song for Wardley, who responded with some clubbing punches. A right rocked Dubois but Wardley was soon reeling again beneath another assault.
Foster took a long hard look at Wardley at the start of the 10th and led him back to the doctor who, to the roar of the crowd, allowed him to return to the hellish fray. Wardley was nailed again midway through the round but he refused to succumb. Just before the bell a cruel right hand landed yet again on Wardley's distorted face.
And then, thankfully, the end of a magnificent fight came. Foster jumped in to stop the contest 28 seconds into the 11th round, with Wardley's face a mask of blood and his nose broken. Dubois was declared the winner by TKO, claiming the WBO heavyweight title.
Aftermath and Future Prospects
There is little doubt that Wardley will return from this painful defeat and he still has much to offer in the heavyweight division. But such a fight takes chunks out of a man and he will need to reflect on the painful lessons doled out to him by Dubois – a fighter who has shown once more that it is possible to recover from a humbling defeat, and two knockdowns, and feel on top of the world again.
