Daniel Dubois survived two knockdowns - the first after just 10 seconds - to dethrone a bloodied but courageous Fabio Wardley in the 11th round of a thrilling heavyweight classic and become a two-time world champion.
Wardley floored his fellow Briton early with a flush right hand and dropped him again in the third, before Dubois regrouped and responded with wave after wave of heavy shots.
The Ipswich fighter, his nose damaged and one eye swollen shut, staggered around the ring yet somehow stayed on his feet and continued to fire back.
FIGHT OF THE YEAR?! 😱
Highlights from Daniel Dubois’ comeback victory vs Fabio Wardley to become heavyweight champion again 🍿#WardleyDubois on DAZN 📺 pic.twitter.com/68oKnpW86g— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 9, 2026
As the contest drifted into uncomfortable territory, the referee had eventually seen enough and halted the fight. A distraught Wardley sank to his knees as Dubois celebrated capturing the WBO heavyweight title.
"It was a war, thank you Fabio for that, thank you. I know I've got heart, bundles of heart. I'm a warrior in there," Dubois told DAZN.
"I had to get back up, bounce it off and come back harder. I'm a warrior."
In a week when Dubois' mentality was questioned, the 28-year-old silenced his critics with a clinical display of heart and power.
Dubois picked up his 23rd professional victory and reasserted himself at the top of the division as Wardley, 31, lost for the first time in 22 fights.
With knockout power stacked heavily on both sides, the fight joined a rare crop of elite encounters to live up to its pre-fight hype, as promoter Frank Warren confirmed there is a rematch clause.
BBC