Ten months after his crushing defeat against Alexander Usyk, Daniel Dubois has made a spectacular return to the boxing ring. The British boxer is now a world champion once again.
Ten months after his crushing defeat against heavyweight dominator Alexander Usyk, Britain’s Daniel Dubois has made a spectacular return to the boxing ring. In a brutal fight in Manchester, the 28-year-old defeated his compatriot Fabio Wardley (31) by technical knockout in the eleventh round, snatching the World Boxing Organization (WBO) world title belt from the previously undefeated champion.
For Dubois, it was his 23rd victory in 26 professional fights, 22 of which he won by knockout. “It was a war. We got through some dicey moments. “Thank you for that, Fabio—thank you,” Dubois told DAZN with great respect for his opponent: “I know I have heart—lots of heart. In the ring, I’m a warrior.” Overwhelmed, he added: “I had to give it everything I had. What a great fight, what a tremendous battle! But I’m number one again.”
Boxing: Dubois fought his way back
The fight between the two knockout specialists quickly turned into an extremely tough battle. Dubois went down after just a few seconds, and in the third round he also had to take a heavy right hand and pick himself back up. But he fought his way back; Wardley came under increasing pressure and was soon covered in blood. The referee didn’t stop the fight until late in the round.
Dubois had lost his IBF title to the Ukrainian Usyk at Wembley Stadium in July of the previous year. For Wardley, who was making his first title defense, the biggest fight of his career to date ended in his first defeat.
A rematch is possible, as a rematch clause is included in the contract. Usyk holds the three other major titles in heavyweight boxing.
