Daniel Dubois defeated Fabio Wardley in their British heavyweight bout, silencing critics who had questioned his resolve. Dubois was knocked down twice but recovered to stop Wardley in the 11th round. The fight took place at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
Dubois overcomes early adversity
Daniel Dubois was knocked down within the first 10 seconds of the opening bell. He was also knocked down in the third round. After the first knockdown, Dubois winked at his corner to indicate he was fine. He did not panic.
Dubois roared back to win by stoppage in the 11th round. He became a two-time world champion.
Doubts erased after Wardley win
Trainer Don Charles defended Dubois after the fight. “Tonight he erased any doubt of all the negative talk. I’m glad the fight went that way so he could demonstrate this quitting narrative is not right,” Charles said.
Dubois has previously faced scrutiny after defeats by Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk. Questions have also been raised about his discipline. He has picked up 22 of his 23 wins by stoppage.
Dubois younger than Joshua and Fury
At 28, Dubois is already a two-time heavyweight world champion. He reached this milestone at a younger age than Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. During fight week, Wardley was articulate, witty, and relaxed. Dubois walked out of two interviews.
In one interview, he bristled when the Joyce defeat was raised. In another, he appeared irritated by what he felt was mocking “quick-fire” questioning.
The win silenced critics who have spent years dissecting the character of Dubois.
‘Save him’ – reacts to Dubois’ stoppage of Wardley
Much of the 18,000-strong crowd had come to see the Wardley fairytale continue, but Dubois blocked out the noise and stayed composed.
Heavyweights exist under a uniquely harsh spotlight and Dubois has absorbed more than his fair share of scrutiny.
The ‘Don’t Blink’ tagline was never meant to be taken quite so literally.
During fight week, Fabio Wardley even joked that if Dubois was not a boxer, he would be a “bin man”.
The win silenced critics who have spent years dissecting the character of Dubois as much as his boxing ability.