Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley delivered an unforgettable heavyweight battle on May 9 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, with fans already labeling the brutal showdown an early “Fight of the Year” contender.
Following the dramatic stoppage victory for Dubois, attention immediately shifted toward whether the two British heavyweights could meet again in the future.
Speaking afterward, promoter Frank Warren addressed the possibility of a rematch while praising both fighters for producing one of the best heavyweight fights.
As the bell rang, Wardley dropped Dubois within the first 10 seconds of the fight. However, Dubois recovered and answered back throughout the contest with devastating right hands and relentless pressure.
By the third round, Dubois took a knee following a huge right hand from Wardley. Yet moments later, Dubois hurt Wardley himself during a chaotic exchange as both heavyweights traded massive shots in the center of the ring.
Dubois and Wardley deliver heavyweight thriller
Dubois quickly turned the fight and made a huge comeback.
‘The Dynamite’ repeatedly backed Wardley toward the ropes while landing heavy combinations. In the fourth round, he badly hurt Wardley with a huge right hand before unloading another barrage after the referee separated a clinch.
Despite the punishment, Wardley continued firing back.
By the sixth round, blood poured from Wardley’s nose as Dubois kept landing powerful combinations against the ropes.
The seventh and eighth rounds saw Dubois dominate stretches of the action with crushing right hands that visibly shook Wardley’s legs. However, the 31-year-old refused to stop throwing punches and continued exchanging in dangerous moments.
“This lived all the expectations and exceeded it,” one commentator said during the broadcast.
Wardley battles through severe damage
Before the ninth round, doctors examined Wardley as his right eye had almost completely swollen shut. Still, he chose to continue.
Wardley even had moments of success afterward, landing big jabs and right hands while trading wildly with Dubois in front of a roaring crowd.
The tenth round brought more drama as the ringside doctor again checked Wardley’s damaged eye before allowing the fight to continue.
Despite taking another brutal right hand near the end of the round, Wardley refused to go down.
However, in round 11, Dubois finally closed the show.
After landing another huge right hand followed by two left shots, the referee stepped in to stop the contest, crowning Dubois a new WBO heavyweight champion.
Frank Warren reveals rematch clause after Dubois stops Wardley
Speaking during the post-fight interview, Warren praised both heavyweights for their toughness and willingness to trade throughout the contest.
“These two guys showed such heart and chins,” Warren said.
“It was an amazing fight that had everything.”
Warren also revealed that the contract includes terms that could allow the rivalry to continue.
“There’s a rematch clause in the contract,” he said.
“Let’s let the dust settle in the heavyweight division. Then we’ll see.”
Warren also praised Wardley’s toughness despite the defeat.
“He’s back and Fabio is not going away either,” Warren said.
“He’s a true gutsy man.”
What's next for Dubois?! 👀#WardleyDubois pic.twitter.com/5VSVUZ8ZEA
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 9, 2026
Fans immediately began calling the fight one of the best heavyweight contests in recent years. Given the reaction to the fight and the rematch clause now in play, speculation around a second showdown is already building rapidly.
