Daniel Dubois wins epic battle against Fabio Wardley to take WBO heavyweight title

[p]Referee Howard Foster finally ‌stepped in at the start of the 11th round to signal the end of the ‌fight with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wardley-fabio/tdUKIc84/"]Wardley[/a] bleeding heavily from the bridge of the ‌nose and with his right eye almost closed.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dubois-daniel/G0otNoYd/"]Dubois[/a] rose twice from the canvas, ‌including being dropped by a right hook in the first 10 ‌seconds of the fight, to pulverise Wardley and become a world heavyweight champion for the second time in his career.[/p][p][b]"It was a war. We came through the sticky ‌moments. Thank you Fabio for that,"[/b] said Dubois, ⁠who was previously IBF champion after ‌the belt was vacated by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/usyk-olexandr/nqbF7L5K/"]Oleksandr Usyk[/a] in 2024, with the Ukrainian winning ​it back in July 2025.[/p][p]"What a great fight. What a great battle, man".[/p][embed guid="8e00c7e4-d64d-476b-ba9e-5f986b02f333" url="https://x.com/ringmagazine/status/2053259725664391542" social-type="twitter" /][p]The win was Dubois's 23rd as a professional in ​26 fights while Wardley now has a 20-1-1 record.[/p][p]Veteran promoter Frank Warren, who manages both men, said it was the best heavyweight fight ⁠he had ever put on ​and confirmed there was a rematch clause in the contract.[/p][p]For some viewers, however, it was also an uncomfortable watch that could have been stopped earlier.[/p][p]The 31-year-old Wardley, who was promoted to WBO champion last November after Usyk ‌vacated the title, was making his first defence and showed immense heart as he took a tremendous beating yet refused to capitulate.[/p][p]He had his opponent on the floor, a blow Dubois, 28, later dismissed as a 'flash knockdown', almost with the opening bell still sounding.[/p][p]Dubois was back on one knee in round three but came close to a stoppage in the sixth with the reigning champion bleeding heavily and on the ropes.[/p][p]The Londoner continued to land blow after blow on Wardley, who wobbled ‌but refused to give up.[/p][p]His corner inspected the facial wounds after the ​eighth and doctors and the referee took a look in rounds ‌nine and 10 but still the fight continued, with Wardley increasingly struggling to stay on his feet and fighting on instinct.[/p][p][b]"You witnessed something special tonight," [/b]Warren told the BBC. [b]"Two men baring their hearts and souls in the ring, gave everything, didn't leave one bit ⁠outside the ring.[/b][/p][p]"They were getting hit ⁠with bombs that would take ‌people out and they stood it."[/p]