Daniel Dubois believes he demonstrated his “warrior” spirit after twice rising from the canvas to claim the WBO heavyweight title by stopping Fabio Wardley in an all-British barnburner.
Knocked down after just 10 seconds by a glancing blow across the top of the head, Dubois also took a knee in the third round as Wardley seemed set to make a dominant statement in his first title defence.
But Dubois weathered the early onslaught and established some rhythm with a ramrod jab, teeing up his more powerful overhand rights that left the game Wardley’s face a state as he was stopped on his feet in the 11th round.
Dubois has faced scrutiny over his mental fortitude – even being labelled a “quitter” in certain quarters after losing to Joe Joyce in 2020 – but he answered his critics in emphatic style.
“It was a war, we went through the sticky moments,” Dubois said in the ring afterwards. “I had to get back up, bounce it off and come back harder. I’m a warrior.
“I had to pull it out the bag and rely on (the jab) and use all of my skills. What a great fight, what a great battle. But, I’m number one again.”
Frank Warren, who promotes both Dubois and Wardley, hailed the fight which lived up to its billing of ‘Don’t Blink’, while he confirmed there is a rematch clause in the contracts they signed.
“It was amazing,” Warren said. “These two guys showed such great heart, chins, it was an amazing fight, it had everything. It’s the best heavyweight fight I’ve ever put on.
Fight week was frosty following an off-the-cuff remark Wardley made that his rival would be a bin man if he were not a boxer, with Dubois subsequently vowing to “take out the trash” at Manchester’s Co-op Live.
He has been a man of few words this week, a pensive and brooding figure who walked out of two interviews as he looked to get back in the win column after losing his IBF title 11 months ago.
Dubois, though, was complimentary about his rival afterwards, as he said: “He’s a durable guy, a great warrior. Thank you for a great fight, man. It was an honour to be in the ring with you.”
A second defeat to heavyweight kingpin Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley Stadium was followed by footage emerging of Dubois hosting a party at his house just hours before being taken out in the fifth round.
His trainer Don Charles, who Dubois fired then rehired since then, promised there would be no repeat of a pre-fight “gathering” after his charge was granted an immediate shot at winning another world title.
He arrived to the arena an hour later than Wardley because of traffic, with the area busier than normal because of Manchester City playing at the nearby Etihad Stadium in a teatime kick-off.
But after handing Wardley, who rose from white-collar shows to world champion in 21 professional fights, his first defeat, Dubois is looking onwards and upwards.
“I want to grow from this fight, improve and come back even better and go on a reign as champion again,” Dubois added.
