Absolute War: Daniel Dubois Stops Fabio Wardley in Eleven Sensational Rounds

Absolute War: Daniel Dubois Stops Fabio Wardley in Eleven Sensational Rounds

Daniel Dubois proved a point to all his critics, and maybe more to himself, when he stopped Fabio Wardley in Manchester to win the WBO heavyweight title in one of the greatest fights ever seen in a British ring.

It was a fight of breathtaking ferocity and brutality. At times, uncomfortably so. Dubois was down twice. Somehow, Wardley stayed on his feet throughout the fight. A miracle in itself. It was an unbelievable spectacle. It had everything. You just couldn’t take your eyes off it. At any moment, you sensed one punch could end it. We knew it would be good. But not this good. Don’t blink was the tagline. It was the perfect synopsis of what we got.

Wardley had Dubois down in the opening few seconds. Dubois was down again in the third. But all the ‘bottle’ narrative that is thrown at Dubois needs to end. It was a battle of resilience, and he wasn’t found wanting.

The 28-year-old Dubois was the better technical fighter. And that was the difference on the night. Wardley, after that incredibly quick start, was seemingly swimming against the tide after the fourth round. His face was a bloody mess. Fighting exhaustion. Wardley looked out on his feet for much of the second half of the fight. Dubois looked to be on the verge of victory in virtually every round down the stretch. But Wardley has superhuman powers of recovery, and one of the greatest chins of any fighter around today. But after his nightmare start, Dubois also showed the strength of his chin. Both proved plenty. They showed even more.

The 6th and 9th rounds were beyond special. Round of the year contenders. Two in one fight. Both heavyweights swinging and landing. It was some sight. It was out of this world entertainment. If that really is the right word.

As the fight entered the championship rounds, Wardley was hanging on. He looked ready to go numerous times. More than arguably, the Wardley corner should have pulled their man out. They had a bad night.

But in their defence, you always had that feeling that Wardley could save his night yet again with just one solitary punch. But Dubois was the fighter who looked the more likely winner. But you still had that feeling that Wardley would yet again find what he needed.

Dubois had the better fundamentals. The jab the key. Wardley was guilty of loading up too much. Swinging and missing emptied his gas tank rapidly. But he never stopped trying. An amazing display of heart. But Dubois deserves credit in that department as well.

When the end did eventually come, it came with a touch of relief. The referee, Howard Foster, was itching to stop the war for the previous few rounds, and he did when Dubois landed a few more right hands. Even Wardley couldn’t take any more.

At 31, Wardley can come again. But it was another brutal war, and even he can only take so much. This was a fight where Wardley would have left a piece of himself in that Manchester ring. There might be a decision to be made about his fighting future. But despite losing his WBO title and his unbeaten record, his reputation was still enhanced.

Daniel Dubois crowned himself a two-time heavyweight champion of the world. It was his finest hour. The 28-year-old came out on top in a manner that few would have predicted. A war of attrition, and it was the supposed mentally weaker fighter who came out on top.

It was a fight for the ages. It won’t be forgotten easily. Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley served up something truly special. Dubois won. But so did boxing.

Photo Credit: Queensberry Promotions