Daniel Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title on Saturday night by beating Fabio Wardley inside two rounds in their rematch at London's O
Daniel Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title on Saturday night by beating Fabio Wardley inside two rounds in their rematch at London’s O2 Arena. The fight ended at 2:21 of the second round when Wardley’s corner retired him.
It was Dubois’s second win over his fellow Briton in five months. Wardley tried to stay composed behind his jab, but Dubois marched him down and looked intent on doing as much damage as early as possible.
The result was a sharp contrast with the first fight. In May, Wardley knocked Dubois down ten seconds into the contest and again in the third round, but Dubois took control as the fight went on, and the referee stopped it in the 11th.
That night Wardley lost both his unbeaten record and his title, and this time Dubois needed far less time. Wardley opened the second round with his jab and wild right hands, but Dubois countered well, and Wardley looked in trouble each time he was hit.
Dubois has now stopped all but one of his professional opponents, with 23 wins since he turned professional in 2017, while Wardley arrived with 19 knockouts in 20 wins.
The win strengthens Dubois’s position at the top of the heavyweight division. He came in looking to reaffirm that position, and Wardley was unable to avenge his earlier defeat.
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