Daniel Dubois recovered from being knocked down twice and stopped Fabio Wardley to win his second world heavyweight title.
Published May 10, 2026
Daniel Dubois survived two knockdowns to claim the WBO heavyweight title with a brutal and bloody first loss as a professional to Fabio Wardley in an all-British clash in Manchester, England.
On Saturday at the Co-op Live Arena, referee Howard Foster finally stepped in at the start of the 11th round to signal the end of the bout. Wardley was bleeding profusely from the bridge of his nose and his right eye was nearly closed.
Dubois got up from the canvas twice, including being dropped by a right hook 10 seconds into the fight, and crushed Wardley, becoming the world heavyweight champion for the second time in his career.
“It was a war. We got through a tough time. Thank you Fabio,” Dubois said. He was a former IBF champion who lost the belt to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024 and the Ukrainian fighter regained it in July 2025.
“Great fight. Great fight, dude.”
The win was Dubois’ 23rd of 26 professional fights, and Wardley currently has a record of 20-1-1.
Veteran promoter Frank Warren, who manages both fighters, said it was the best heavyweight fight he had ever had and confirmed there was a rematch clause in the contract.
But for some viewers, it was also an unpleasant watch that could have been stopped sooner.
After Usyk vacated the title, the 31-year-old Wardley, who was promoted to WBO title in November of last year, made his first defense and showed his strength by refusing to surrender despite taking a brutal blow.
He forced his opponent to the floor and landed a blow on Dubois, 28, that was dismissed as a “flash knockdown” as the bell rang to start the fight.
Dubois returned on one knee in the third round, but was nearly stopped in the sixth round when the reigning champion fell to the ropes, bleeding profusely.
The Londoner continued to land blow after blow on Wardley, who stumbled but did not give up.
A corner official examined the facial wound after the eighth round, and a doctor and referee examined him in the ninth and tenth rounds, but the fight continued, with Wardley increasingly struggling to stand and fighting on instinct.
“Tonight you witnessed something special,” Warren told the BBC. “Two men who gave their all, baring their hearts and souls in the ring, never stepped outside the ring.
“There were bombs being dropped on them that would take people away, but they withstood.”
