Result: Daniel Dubois def. Fabio Wardley via 11th-round TKO

Updated 10 May, 10:00 GMT

Daniel Dubois stopped Fabio Wardley in the 11th round at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on Saturday night to rip the WBO heavyweight title from the Ipswich man and become a two-time world champion.

It was a war from the opening bell. Dubois hit the canvas in both Round 1 and Round 3, with Wardley’s overhand right looking, briefly, like it might end the night early. But the challenger settled, found his jab, and slowly turned the fight on its head, after taking a double slap in the face from his head coach Don Charles. He started walking Wardley down with the same stiff left hand that broke Anthony Joshua in 2024.

Referee Howard Foster waved it off in the 11th with Wardley stumbling and turning his head away from the fight.

Wardley V Dubois Punch Stats

Dubois landed 179 of 391 total punches at 45.8%, compared with Wardley’s 97 of 358 at 27.1%. The biggest difference came in power punches, where Dubois landed 87 of 180, more than double Wardley’s 40 of 149.

Wardley showed huge toughness and somehow never went down, but Dubois’ sustained pressure forced the referee to step in and end the fight.

Will Wardley V Dubois Rematch?

Frank Warren has confirmed Wardley holds a rematch clause and on the evidence of this one, you’d take it.

But the WBO mandatory looms: Moses Itauma is set to be installed after his March KO of Jermaine Franklin, and the gym conflict that protected Wardley doesn’t apply to Dubois. Will we see Itauma v Dubois instead?

A third Usyk fight makes no sense either, the Ukrainian has beaten Dubois twice and is tied up with WBC mandatory Agit Kabayel.

Check the latest heavyweight rankings to see where both fighters sit heading after fight night.

Fabio Wardley Recent Form

Wardley didn’t lace up a glove until he was 20 and has now registered a knockdown in every one of his 20 professional wins. The Parker stoppage was his defining performance, although outboxed through the middle rounds, he found a finish in the 11th that demonstrated his most dangerous quality: he always carries power late.

This was also seen against Huni at Portman Road, he was behind on the scorecards before a tenth-round right hand ended the fight. The pattern is clear. Wardley can survive to the later rounds, whilst still carrying power.

Daniel Dubois Recent Form

Dubois has contested five world title fights by the age of 28 and holds wins over Joshua, Hrgovic, Miller and Trevor Bryan. Only Usyk has beaten him at world level, and even that first encounter in 2023 carried controversy after a low-blow ruling denied him a potential fifth-round stoppage.

The Joshua destruction at Wembley, four knockdowns with a fifth-round finish, was his career peak. The concerns are familiar, though. He was overwhelmed by Usyk in both encounters, and the Joyce defeat in 2020 raised questions about his response when things go wrong.

The reunion with his old trainer, Don Charles is an attempt to restore the structure that carried him to the WBA title in the first place.

The Split Decision’s Prediction

Wardley needs to make this messy. His best wins have come when opponents have controlled spells, only for Wardley to stay in the fight long enough to drag them into danger. If Dubois is allowed to box behind his jab and land first with the heavier straight shots, he has the cleaner route to victory.

The longer the fight goes, though, the more interesting it becomes for Wardley. He has shown late power against Parker and Huni, and if this reaches the second half of the fight with both men under pressure, Wardley’s engine, belief and finishing instinct could become decisive.

Split Decision prediction: Wardley by late stoppage, but only after dangerous early moments.

Ben | Split Decision

Ben is the founder and editor of Split Decision, an independent boxing news site covering world title fights, British boxing, and boxing products.

Tagged Heavyweight