Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois | DAZN PPV - 9 May 2026

[1529048]

What kinda shocks me is how Usyk make it look like a mismatch both times. Yet with every other fighter Dubois looks honestly scary and unstoppable.

[Coco]

What kinda shocks me is how Usyk make it look like a mismatch both times. Yet with every other fighter Dubois looks honestly scary and unstoppable.

Uysk is that good

[johnmanchester]

Crazy fight

Very entertaining

But terrible for Fabio health and awful work from his corner, the referee and the doctors

[Coco]

The only braver folk there were Boxercise and Howard Foster

[johnmanchester]

The only braver folk there were Boxercise and Howard Foster

When he literally staggered for no reason at start of round ten, that should instantly have been the end of it.

A fighter who cannot handle a short stroll across the ring is not a fighter who is gonna be able to intelligently defend himself.

[Coco]

The only braver folk there were Boxercise and Howard Foster

When he literally staggered for no reason at start of round ten, that should instantly have been the end of it.

A fighter who cannot handle a short stroll across the ring is not a fighter who is gonna be able to intelligently defend himself.

I'm sure Foster will remedy things by jumping in as soon as an away fighter gets a little dab, you never know what damage the next punch will do.....

[gregregegg]

The only braver folk there were Boxercise and Howard Foster

When he literally staggered for no reason at start of round ten, that should instantly have been the end of it.

A fighter who cannot handle a short stroll across the ring is not a fighter who is gonna be able to intelligently defend himself.

That is when it should have ended. Ref should have waved it, corner should have jumped on… I guess To be fair he did get sent to the dr twice… but I think it was just for superficial facial damage.
I don’t know if the dr can say, his eye is ok but the guy is fucked ref, no more…

[forcefraser]

What was the round when Wardley landed that monster uppercut that Dubois just shook off. I think it may have been the 9th or 10th?

That punch would have floored most heavies.

[Controversial]

The only braver folk there were Boxercise and Howard Foster

When he literally staggered for no reason at start of round ten, that should instantly have been the end of it.

A fighter who cannot handle a short stroll across the ring is not a fighter who is gonna be able to intelligently defend himself.

That is when it should have ended. Ref should have waved it, corner should have jumped on… I guess To be fair he did get sent to the dr twice… but I think it was just for superficial facial damage.
I don’t know if the dr can say, his eye is ok but the guy is fucked ref, no more…

Davison said he didn’t notice Wardley staggering otherwise he would’ve stopped it

[johnmanchester]

When he literally staggered for no reason at start of round ten, that should instantly have been the end of it.

A fighter who cannot handle a short stroll across the ring is not a fighter who is gonna be able to intelligently defend himself.

That is when it should have ended. Ref should have waved it, corner should have jumped on… I guess To be fair he did get sent to the dr twice… but I think it was just for superficial facial damage.
I don’t know if the dr can say, his eye is ok but the guy is fucked ref, no more…

Davison said he didn’t notice Wardley staggering otherwise he would’ve stopped it

There is no way he could not have seen Wardley staggering to the neutral corner in those opening seconds of the tenth round

Think about it

The round has just started, the referee has called a pause and is now doing something with your fighter... Is the fight being called off? Has some issue arisen? Is the mouthguard out?

You dont know, so you don't take your eyes off it. There is literally nowhere else you'll be looking more intently than your fighter who has just been pulled by the ref and sent to a neutral corner to see the doctor.



There is no way they weren't watching that. The fight was potentially about to be called off. Which corner is looking elsewhere or checking their phone at that moment?

[Controversial]

That is when it should have ended. Ref should have waved it, corner should have jumped on… I guess To be fair he did get sent to the dr twice… but I think it was just for superficial facial damage.
I don’t know if the dr can say, his eye is ok but the guy is fucked ref, no more…

Davison said he didn’t notice Wardley staggering otherwise he would’ve stopped it

There is no way he could not have seen Wardley staggering to the neutral corner in those opening seconds of the tenth round

Think about it

The round has just started, the referee has called a pause and is now doing something with your fighter... Is the fight being called off? Has some issue arisen? Is the mouthguard out?

You dont know, so you don't take your eyes off it. There is literally nowhere else you'll be looking more intently than your fighter who has just been pulled by the ref and sent to a neutral corner to see the doctor.



There is no way they weren't watching that. The fight was potentially about to be called off. Which corner is looking elsewhere or checking their phone at that moment?

No idea, I’m just repeating what he said. He said they missed him stumble as they were discussing between them to get the towel ready for next round to throw in if needed.

[gregregegg]

I’d have to rewatch it but his worst stagger could have been while ben was climbing out of the ring I guess. But there were several.

[gilgamesh]

I’d have to rewatch it but his worst stagger could have been while ben was climbing out of the ring I guess. But there were several.

That moment at the end of Round 9 where Wardley looked to be briefly out on his feet, I think he basically was, and from that point on he was likely fighting with a concussion. Usually when you see a guy start having a stagger to his walk he's concussed.

Wladimir Klitschko's corner threw the towel in immediately when they saw he staggered like that against Ross Purritty, and it was probably for the best as far as his long term health was concerned. The beating Wardley continued to take after being that badly hurt surely is gonna have a lasting impact on him.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Trainer praises Daniel Dubois for putting knockdowns and defeats behind him

Don Charles believes that Daniel Dubois conquered the self-doubt he would have taken into Saturday’s contest with Fabio Wardley.

In what seems certain to be considered the fight of 2026 Dubois recovered from heavy knockdowns suffered in the first and third rounds to stop in the 11th the defending WBO heavyweight champion and to inflict his first ever defeat.

Dubois’ previous fight, in July 2025, had ended in the fifth round when he was stopped by Oleksandr Usyk and widely accused of quitting.

In each of his three defeats – two by Usyk and the first by Joe Joyce – he has been accused of lacking heart, and perhaps not unreasonably. After the “worst start” they could have hoped for against Wardley at the Co-op Live, however, the 28 year old recovered to win what might prove his most memorable fight.

It was after the second of the defeats by Usyk that Dubois separated from Charles, appointed Tony Sims as his new trainer, and rehired Charles without having had a single fight during that period.

Wardley, 31 and also of England, was considered the favourite largely on account of the considerable heart he has long been recognised as having and which he demonstrated once again.

Dubois entered Saturday’s contest without the luxury of a keep-busy fight to put the date with Usyk behind him. Charles therefore attempted to rebuild his confidence during their fight preparations by repeatedly playing at his gym footage of Dubois stopping Anthony Joshua in 2024.

“It has to come from within,” Charles told BS. “That’s what he did for himself.

“It’s subliminal programming. Every human brain is the same – it’s all subliminal stuff. Daniel occasionally catches it – it’s a reminder of what he can do and what he has done.

“I’ve normally got a lot to say but I’m lost for words.

“I’ve got to thank God Almighty, the most high, and the universe that we trust.

“I haven’t digested it. I’m coherent. I know where I am. I know what’s happened. But I haven’t actually started to digest it.

“It was the worst start you can have. The worst start we could have. He showed what a warrior he is. He got up. You had two warriors in there that wanted to win. I’m lost for words. I really am.”

Asked if he had been concerned with either knockdown Charles responded: “No, he’s fit. When you’re fit you’ve got a better chance of recovering. There were big shots. Most people [wouldn’t get up] – and Fabio can hit. Fabio can hit.”

The trainer was also asked about whether Wardley should have been rescued before the intervention of the referee Howard Foster 28 seconds into the 11th round.

By the time of the fight’s conclusion Wardley was grotesquely cut on the bridge of his nose and his right eye was swollen shut.

“I’m not at liberty to answer that ‘cause that’s what the referee and the doctor is there to do,” he perhaps tellingly said.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ben Davison agrees Fabio Wardley ‘could’ have been saved earlier

Ben Davison has recognised that Fabio Wardley “could” have been rescued earlier than the 11th round of his WBO heavyweight title defeat by Daniel Dubois.

At the Co-op Live Wardley sacrificed his title on the occasion of his first defence when after 28 seconds of the 11th round the referee Howard Foster finally intervened to save him from further punishment.

Wardley’s right eye was swollen shut, his nose was grotesquely cut and bleeding, he was unsteady on his feet, and he was absorbing consistent punishment to the head from one of the biggest punchers in the world.

He had by then dropped the 28-year-old Dubois in the first and third rounds, and had largely built his reputation after coming from behind to dramatically stop Justis Huni and Joseph Parker in his previous two fights.

Davison, who alongside Rob Hodgins trains the 31-year-old Wardley, was among those criticised, post-fight. Wardley-Dubois will be remembered as one of the fights of 2026, but he, Foster and the ringside doctor had had opportunities to rescue Wardley when he was struggling to defend himself. The final rounds were increasingly one-sided and potentially dangerous; there is also the reality that as a consequence Wardley may never be the same fighter again.

“Firstly, congratulations to Dubois,” Davison posted on social media. "Two tremendous warriors in a modern-day classic. We are super proud of Fabio.

“I actually agree the fight could have been stopped earlier.

“I did not see Fabio stumble before walking over to the doctor at the start of round 10, as ironically we was discussing with each other to ‘have the towel in hand’, by which time he had gone over and seen the doctor and seemed much steadier on his legs, which is what we saw.

“It’s such a difficult job to not only find a balance but to strike at the right time to stop a fight like that on a whim when your guy is responsive and firing back.”

Davison was Tyson Fury’s trainer on the night of his first fight with Deontay Wilder, when Fury produced one of the most memorable of all recoveries from a 12th-round knockdown.

It was also tempting to conclude that Foster – in 2013 and also in Manchester so widely criticised for prematurely rescuing George Groves against Carl Froch – was reluctant to act because the entertaining nature of the contest meant that he feared further criticism.

“I’ve been praised for not towelling Fury (Wilder),” Davison continued. “I was praised for not towelling Wood (Conlan). I was firstly criticised then later praised for towelling Wood (Lara).

“Two occasions we looked at it but one, the end of the round came, two, Fabio fired back and killed Dubois’ momentum.

“Again, it was very difficult in the circumstances of the fighter being responsive and firing back.

“I’ve seen mixed opinions on this one but I agree it could have been stopped earlier. However, with that said, I think Howard Foster got it bang on with his terms.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘Best heavyweight fight I’ve ever put on’: Frank~Warren on Wardley vs Dubois brawl

Frank~Warren says he’s never had a better heavyweight fight than Wardley vs Dubois

Promoter Frank~Warren has been around for many decades now, and he’s put on his share of heavyweight fights. But he says that today’s battle between Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley was the best he’s ever promoted.

And for once, this doesn’t seem anything like “promoter-speak.” If you watched the fight, you know this was something sincere from Warren, as Wardley — who twice dropped Dubois in the opening three rounds — took a horrendous beating but refused to quit, until referee Howard Foster finally stopped the bout in round 11.

“It was amazing. These two guys showed such heart, both of them,” Warren said. “Great heart, chins. It was an amazing fight. It was just absorbing, it had everything. Best heavyweight fight I’ve ever put on.”

Warren did say that Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KO) had a rematch clause in the contract, as he came in as WBO champion. But Wardley may also need significant time off, and Warren wasn’t firm that a rematch would come next, for understandable reasons.

“There is a rematch clause in the contract. Let the dust settle. There’s a lot of things happening in the next couple of months in the heavyweight division, and then we’ll see,” he said.

“But (Dubois) is back, and Fabio, he’s not going away, either. He’ll be back. He’s a true, true brave, gutsy man. Unbelievable. I take my hat off to both of them.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘It was an honor’: Daniel Dubois thanks Fabio Wardley for epic heavyweight war

Daniel Dubois showed his appreciation for Fabio Wardley after their bloody battle

Daniel Dubois has a heavyweight title again, as “DDD” took the WBO belt away from Fabio Wardley in an epic, bloody war today in Manchester, England.

It’s a fight that is destined to go down in legend, with Dubois (23-3, 22 KO) coming off the canvas twice early to turn the face of Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KO) into a frankly gruesome sight, with referee Howard Foster stepping in to stop the war in the 11th round.

Wardley never gave up and kept wanting to continue, even after it was clear only a miracle was going to keep the belt in his corner. It was an unbelievable display that promoter allegedly called the “best heavyweight fight he’s ever put on,” and if you watched, you can believe that he truly meant that.

Dubois repeatedly thanked Wardley for his efforts and for a great fight when all was said and done.

“It was a war. We came through the sticky situations and that was a war. Thank you, Fabio, for that. Thank you,” Dubois said. “I’ve got heart, bundles of heart. I’m a warrior in there. I had to shake off (the knockdowns) and come back. I’m a warrior.”

“I had to pull the jab out of the bag and rely on it, and use all my skills. What a great battle, a great fight. He’s a durable guy. He’s a great warrior. I thank him for a great fight. It was an honor to be in the ring with him.”

Dubois didn’t name any particular fight that might come next, saying he only wants to come back stronger now that he’s a champion again.

Warren did note that the fight had a rematch clause, but Wardley may need too much time to recover to activate it within the contractual window.

[jamesmcdonnell]

If Wardley fights dubois again, he is mental - all wrong for him, 2nd time around, Dubois will smash him inside 4 rounds. Wardley is going to be shot to pieces after that mauling.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Trainer on viral Dubois slap: 'It woke him up, I've got heavy hands'

Daniel Dubois became a two-time heavyweight champion on Saturday night, but his victory didn't come without its shaky moments.

Dubois (23-2, 22 KOs) brutally beat down and stopped WBO champion Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs) in the 11th round at Manchester's Co-Op Live Arena, but the Londoner overcame two early knockdowns before doing so.

Wardley put Dubois on his backside with the first punch he landed 15 seconds into the opening round. Dubois then took a knee in the third after Wardley landed a right on the side of his head.

Dubois steadied the ship in the fourth round but before the start of the fifth, trainer Don Charles gave him a meaty double slap — a moment which has since gone viral on social media.

Charles told The Ring: "I did it to wake him up, to remind him of his duties, his obligations, of what the task is. Wake up, and I think that woke him up ... and I've got heavy hands.

"Experience [was key]. You just have to stay calm and hopefully it will correct itself. When a plane goes to turbulence in the air, a good pilot will stay calm and steady the plane, that's what we have to do. Stay calm, steady the plane."

Dubois' win over Wardley was his first fight back since losing to Oleksandr Usyk for a second time last July at Wembley. After that defeat, Dubois left Charles for Essex-based Tony Sims before making a U-turn back to Charles' gym in Borehamwood.

Their partnership and connection only grew stronger after 11 brutal rounds of world championship action. It was also the furthest Dubois has been in a fight, having only been to the 10th round previously.

Question marks remained over Dubois and his supposed willingness to "quit" in fights, but Charles quashed those assertions before praising Wardley for his superhuman efforts in what will go down as a surefire Fight of the Year candidate.

"Any human being that questions [Dubois] ever again about the quitting thing, may thunder strike them," Charles said.

"I'm still trying to recover. I need my heart checked. What a magical epic fight between two warriors, two gladiators. There was no losers in there tonight, in my opinion ... boxing won.

"Fabio ... I said to him after, 'they don't make men like you anymore.' They don't, [he's] a throwback. [He] really is. And so is Daniel, and boxing won because for the neutrals, whoa, that lived up to expectations."

[Glass Joe]

[johnmanchester]

Precisely zero people have ever been struck by thunder

[Ruthless-RKO]

Precisely zero people have ever been struck by thunder

I think he meant lightening

Or that he doesn't mean any harm, because he said thunder

[Ruthless-RKO]

In a conversation with talkSPORT, Warren gives his reaction to the fight, whether he believed Wardley should’ve been stopped sooner, and whether or not there will be a rematch.

Warren on whether Dubois’ heart can no longer be questioned
“Well, look at the punches that he took and he got up and he gritted his teeth and got on with it, and he’s matured and he boxed extremely well…It was magnificent. And anybody who doubts Daniel now, I don’t know what planet they’re on. He’s matured mentally and I’ve believed in him, we’ve stuck with him.”

On whether we’ll see a rematch
“Well there is a rematch clause but it won’t happen for a while because it’s going to take a long time. I sent Fabio a message yesterday, he’s home now safely with his family and he’s got to recover, as has Daniel. Those fights take a lot out of you and it’s definitely a fight I suppose all the fans would like to see. Whether it happens or not, I don’t know, but that’s going to be down to Fabio and his team.”

On how Wardley is doing
“He’s had quite a few stitches and he’s obviously down because he got beat, but he gave a massively great account of himself, and now it’s all about him spending time with his family and his new daughter. So that’s what he’ll do and when the time’s right, we’ll see.”

On whether Wardley was allowed to continue in the fight for too long
“I think it did. But I know what the thought process behind them was because that fact what he did in both the fights with Huni and Parker, how he pulled it out the bag…but he didn’t take the punishment of the Parker and Huni fight as he did against Daniel, and Daniel is a phenomenal puncher.

“Ben [Davison] and the team, they’re seasoned trainers and cornermen. They feel they know what they’re doing, but me, I would’ve pulled my man out.”

[KiwiRider]

Precisely zero people have ever been struck by thunder

[KiwiRider]

If Wardley fights dubois again, he is mental - all wrong for him, 2nd time around, Dubois will smash him inside 4 rounds. Wardley is going to be shot to pieces after that mauling.

Maybe, or Wardley could come out like he did with Clark the second time and rearrange his face!
Of course that fight could have cracked his punch resistance and he will go down the ever diminishing path like Joe Joyce.