Dubois destroys Wardley in two rounds to retain WBO Heavyweight title

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Daniel Dubois delivered a devastating statement of intent on Saturday night, stopping Fabio Wardley in the second round of their heavyweight rematch at London’s O2 Arena to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title and avenge the doubts that followed his turbulent career.

The defending champion made an explosive start, flooring Wardley within the opening seconds before subjecting his British rival to sustained punishment.

Wardley survived the first round, but his corner eventually threw in the towel during the second round, bringing a premature end to a contest that had promised another bruising encounter between two of Britain’s leading heavyweight boxers.

The result was a striking contrast to their first meeting in May, when Dubois had to recover from two knockdowns before stopping Wardley in the 11th round to capture the WBO title.

This time, the champion left little room for a prolonged battle, establishing his superiority almost immediately and securing a much quicker victory.

The fight began at a furious pace, with Dubois immediately taking the initiative and forcing Wardley onto the defensive. Within 17 seconds of the opening bell, the challenger was sent to the canvas, giving the champion an early advantage and putting Wardley’s plans for revenge in jeopardy.

Wardley had entered the contest determined to reverse the outcome of their first meeting, but the opening exchanges suggested that Dubois had made significant adjustments for the rematch. Rather than allowing his opponent time to settle into the contest, the champion pressed forward and looked to impose his power from the outset.

The punishment continued throughout the opening round. Wardley managed to remain in the fight until the bell, but the respite proved temporary. Dubois resumed his assault in the second round, and Wardley’s corner eventually decided that continuing would expose their fighter to further unnecessary punishment.

The official result was a second-round technical knockout at 2 minutes, 21 seconds, following a corner retirement. It was a decisive finish that left no need for the judges’ scorecards.

The manner of the victory was particularly significant because Dubois had experienced serious adversity during their first encounter.

In May, Wardley dropped him within the opening seconds and scored another knockdown in the third round. Dubois recovered, steadily took control and stopped Wardley early in the 11th round of a brutal contest in Manchester.