Daniel Dubois retains WBO heavyweight title with second-round stoppage of Fabio Wardley

Daniel Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title by stopping Fabio Wardley in the second round of their rematch. It was his second win over Wardley in about five months. He first beat him in May, in a fight that ended in the 11th round after Wardley had knocked Dubois down early.

This time Dubois knocked Wardley down in the first round. BBC Sport and The Guardian put the knockdown at 17 seconds. ESPN says it came in the first half of the round. Near the end of round one, Wardley's trainer, Ben Davison, stood ready with the towel. The bell saved Wardley. In round two, Davison threw in the towel.

Reported details

According to BBC Sport, the fight took place at the O2 Arena in London. ESPN also reports that the fight was in London. BBC Sport reported a sell-out crowd of 19,000. The Guardian put the stoppage at 2 minutes 21 seconds of round two. According to The Guardian, it was the first time in 23 professional fights that Wardley had to take a count.

According to BBC Sport and ESPN, Dubois's record is now 24 wins, 23 by knockout, and three defeats. Wardley's record is 20-2-1 with 19 knockouts. This was his second defeat.

BBC Sport and ESPN reported that Filip Hrgovic, who holds the IBF title according to both outlets, entered the ring after the fight and faced off with Dubois. According to BBC Sport, Dubois stopped Hrgovic in June 2024.

What is disputed

BBC Sport and ESPN report that Wardley's corner threw in the towel. The Guardian reports that the referee stepped in just as the towel came over the ropes. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include an official ruling on how the stoppage is recorded. The outlets also differ on the knockdown punch. BBC Sport and ESPN describe a right hand. The Guardian describes a left cross followed by a right hand.

What each side says

BBC Sport quoted Dubois as saying: "Whoever is next in line, really. I'm the champion now, and I want to get some big fights in. At this stage in my career, big money, big fights."

The Guardian quoted Wardley as saying: "It’s never fun to lose – but it is what it is, it’s the name of the game." The Guardian also quoted him as saying "I didn’t touch the canvas." All three reports describe a first-round knockdown. They do not explain the discrepancy.

According to BBC Sport, promoter Frank Warren wants Hrgovic to make his first title defence in Croatia before pursuing a unification fight. According to ESPN, Warren has said unification bouts await all his champions next year. BBC Sport describes Dubois and Hrgovic as both keen on a rematch. The reports do not identify a confirmed next opponent or date for Dubois.

Analysis

The result keeps Dubois at the centre of a heavyweight division in which the world titles are split. According to ESPN, Frank Warren of Queensberry promotes Dubois, Hrgovic, Agit Kabayel and Tyson Fury. This could make unification talks simpler, although commercial and sanctioning-body factors may still shape the timing. One possible path is a Dubois–Hrgovic rematch. Another is a delay while Hrgovic defends in Croatia, as Warren has said he wants, according to BBC Sport. ESPN reports that Kabayel defends next month. BBC Sport reports that Joshua and Fury are due to fight in December. Either outcome could change the options available to Dubois.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.