Daniel Dubois reaffirmed his position as Britain’s leading heavyweight by stopping Fabio Wardley in the second round of their rematch at London’s O2 Arena.
The 29-year-old champion dropped Wardley with a straight right after only 17 seconds and maintained relentless pressure until the challenger’s corner threw in the towel.
Wardley survived the opening round but was trapped in the corner and overwhelmed by another sustained attack in the second. Trainer Ben Davison ended the contest before his fighter could take further punishment.
The victory was Dubois’ second successive stoppage against Wardley, coming five months after he recovered from being knocked down twice to beat his British rival in an 11-round contest in Manchester.
There was no repeat of that drama this time as Dubois controlled the fight from the opening bell. The result took his professional record to 24 victories, including 23 by knockout, and three defeats.
“Fabio is a great boy, coming in for the second time, but it was my time and my era. I had my intentions, bad intentions from the beginning,” Dubois said.
“My back was against the wall the first time; this time we just had to go out there and show that we mean business, which is what we did tonight.”
Wardley, 31, has now lost twice in a 23-fight professional career. He said he had no regrets about facing the division’s leading opponents.
“I have always thrown myself in with the best competitors out there, the best in the business, the biggest, hardest, meanest guys around, so there is no shame in a loss when you’re testing yourself against the best,” he said.
A sell-out crowd of 19,000 at the O2 Arena made its support clear before the opening bell. Wardley, a popular figure known for his charismatic but measured personality, walked on to the stage with fireworks around him and a determined expression replacing his usual smile.
Dubois received jeers as he passed the fireworks and headed directly towards the ring. Actor Paddy Considine, comedian Rob Beckett, Oasis star Noel Gallagher and darts world champion Luke Littler were among those watching.
With the fighters having recorded 41 knockouts between them, few expected the bout to reach the judges. Wardley’s best opportunity had appeared to be another aggressive start, given that he had dropped Dubois early in their first meeting.
Instead, Dubois immediately forced him backwards and found the target with the right hand. The champion followed up with punishing combinations, silencing chants of “oh Fabio Wardley”, and launched another fierce assault late in the round.
Davison, who had been criticised for not stopping the first fight earlier, stood ready with a towel as Wardley reached the bell.
There had already been concern about whether Wardley had returned too soon after being left bloodied and badly swollen by the punishment he took in May. Those fears appeared justified as he struggled to deal with Dubois’ pressure, carrying his hands low and throwing wild, telegraphed punches that lacked the threat he had shown in Manchester.
When Dubois cornered him again in the second round, another barrage prompted Davison to climb on to the apron and throw in the towel.
