The boxing Heavyweights have taken center stage over the last few months, providing fight fans with great action across the board. But Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley may have put on the best big man boxing bout in recent memory after the two heavy-handed bruisers entertained fight fans across the world with a back-and-forth brawl.
From the jump, you knew it was going to be a classic after Wardley dropped Dubois with a huge overhand right just 10 seconds into the fight. Undeterred, the brawling Brit shook off the cobwebs and continued on, pressing the action as best he could. In round three, Wardley was once again tagging the challenger, ultimately forcing him to take a knee after eating a huge right hand.
But, right when you thought Wardley was going to cruise his way to a victory, Dubois flipped the switch and took over.
Indeed, once the fourth round began, Dubois — who took two big slaps from his trainer for motivation as he was getting off the stool — looked like a different fighter. The big man was working his jab to perfection, and once he got that going his right hand started working like a laser as he consistently crushed the champ with one huge shot after another. To his credit, Wardley showed just how strong his chin was throughout as he refused to go down.
And that was the story for the next eight rounds, with Dubois brutalizing Wardley with one vicious shot after another. Wardley’s face was a mangled mess, with his right eye closing up and his nose leaking like a faucet. Undeterred, he kept pushing forward even when he seemed as if he was out on his feet.
At the start of round 10, Wardley came out to start the frame but it was obvious he was not well as he was stumbling a bit. Upon noticing, the referee on duty called for the ringside doctor. After a quick assessment, Wardley was allowed to continue. What proceeded was Dubois tagging his fellow big man with repeated big shots that would have likely ended many fighters’ night, rocking his head back while Wardley tried his best to pop off some offense.
At the beginning of round 11, Dubois once again came out aggressive and tagged the champion with two vicious right hands that prompted the referee on duty to put end to the fight. And it was the right call because the feeling was that Wardley’s corner should’ve thrown in the towel much sooner due to the brutal beat down.
In the end, Dubois wins the WBO Heavyweight title by handing Wardley his first-ever defeat. Shortly after the fight, Frank Warren revealed that there was a rematch clause in the contract, which means we could get to see those two big men face off once more after providing fights fans with one of the best fights of the year.
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