Dubois defeats Wardley in the 11th round to claim the WBO heavyweight title
Daniel Dubois rebounded from two knockdowns to deliver Fabio Wardley a devastating and bloody first defeat as a professional, capturing the WBO heavyweight title in a thunderous all-British showdown on Saturday.
Referee Howard Foster ultimately intervened at the beginning of the 11th round, signaling the conclusion of the bout as Wardley bled profusely from the bridge of his nose, his right eye nearly shut.
Dubois rose twice from the canvas, including being dropped by a right hook in the first 10 seconds of the fight, to dominate Wardley and secure the world heavyweight championship for the second time in his career. A conflict unfolded. We navigated the challenging moments. “Thank you, Fabio, for that,” said Dubois, who was the IBF champion after the belt was vacated by Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, with the Ukrainian reclaiming it in July 2025.
What an excellent match. What an incredible battle, my friend.
Dubois achieved his 23rd victory as a professional in 26 fights, while Wardley holds a record of 20 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw.
Frank Warren, the seasoned promoter managing both fighters, declared it the finest heavyweight bout he has ever organized and confirmed the presence of a rematch clause in the contract.
Certain viewers found the experience unsettling, and it could have concluded sooner.
The 31-year-old Wardley, who ascended to the WBO champion title last November following Usyk’s vacating of it, was making his inaugural defense and displayed remarkable resilience as he endured a significant onslaught yet remained steadfast in his determination.
He had his opponent on the floor, a blow Dubois, 28, later referred to as a ‘flash knockdown,’ almost with the opening bell still ringing.
In the third round, Dubois found himself back on one knee, yet he nearly achieved a stoppage in the sixth as the reigning champion bled profusely and was backed against the ropes.
The Londoner kept delivering strike after strike to Wardley, who staggered yet remained resolute in his determination to not surrender.
After the eighth round, his corner examined the facial wounds, and both the doctors and the referee assessed the situation in rounds nine and ten. Nevertheless, the fight persisted, with Wardley increasingly finding it difficult to remain upright and relying on instinct to continue.
“You experienced something remarkable this evening,” Warren shared with the BBC. Two men laid bare their hearts and souls in the ring, giving their all, leaving nothing behind outside the ropes.
They endured bombings that could eliminate lives, yet they persevered.
