Round-by-Round: Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois | PPV - 9 May 2026

[keithmoonhangover]

If Daniel Dubois is the second best heavyweight in the world, we are living in the weakest heavyweight division since god was a lad.

You must have forgot the Klitschko era Keith. Large breasted challengers with the stamina to throw 10 punches a round against robotic Champions.

Alexander Povetkin or David Haye would have eaten DDD alive. Although, that was a poor era also.

[agarca2014]

2026

Professional Boxing Referee Manual
https://tinyurl.com/rc5375yk

Referee Dressing Room Instructions Script:
https://tinyurl.com/39cz89s7

Armando Garcia

[jameswilson]

If Daniel Dubois is the second best heavyweight in the world, we are living in the weakest heavyweight division since god was a lad.

You must have forgot the Klitschko era Keith. Large breasted challengers with the stamina to throw 10 punches a round against robotic Champions.

Alexander Povetkin or David Haye would have eaten DDD alive. Although, that was a poor era also.

What I remember from that era was how top heavy the division was both at number 1 during Wlad’s long reign after he had his few defeats but also in the 2 and 3 ranked guys which you’d probably say was Povetkin and Haye. Chagaev and Valuev may well have done ok against Haye or Povetkin (Valuev obviously lost close but always looked awful even in his wins) but other than that I think 1, 2 and 3 dog walk everyone else in the division.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Highlights

[garethhop]

The last two rounds were a really horrible watch. Shame on the referee and Wardley's corner.

Two very brave men. Ddd taking the knee for the second knockdown is the smartest thing he has ever done.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I feel like Foster wanted the doctor to stop it.

The fans clearly wanted a KO.

Wardley has phenomenal chin.

To stay up when he was clearly finished for at least 3 rounds.

[gp.]

I missed it at the time. Every "highlights" clip I have seen so far jumps straight from the end of the 7th round to the stoppage in the 11th. Probably have to read something into that.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Looking at the punch stats, wardley well outlanded in every round other than round one.

Wardley other tnan the two flash knockdowns, only landed a handful of clean shots.

By the halfway point though, his form had gone and the power was diminshed.

Ive not watched wardley much, my following pf boxing is much diminshed, but im convinced wardley was either carrying injuries into the bout, or was injured during their tumble.

I dont know it would have made much difference though, there was a clear gulf in class. Wardleys done incredibly well to go as far as he has, but his lack of fundamentals, including basic footwork, was his ultimate undoing.

He clearly has phenonenal natural raw power, but hes not going to be improving at this stage of his career. He could tighten his stance maybe, better shape, chin tucked in, less square on, these would help, but under pressure hes likely to revert to his old habits, its why fighters without amateur bavkgrounds come unstuck, theyve not had decades of drills to create reinforced solid habits.

Been

[Controversial]

I noticed Daniel’s dad Stan was named in his corner team as a second, didn’t realise it was an official thing.

[forcefraser]

The first 6 rounds were amazing, proper edge of seat stuff.

The last 5 was one guy with sound boxing fundamentals and power beating an exhausted relative novice half to death.

A story of hype, courage, amazing resilience and redemption.

As much as people say the last 3 rounds were uncomfortable to watch, they are an integral part of what made the fight what it was.

Without those 3 rounds would people be lauding the fight as highly from an overall spectacle?

Boxing is a brutal sport and what we saw in the last 3 rounds holds its own fascination

Has Wardley given an interview after the fight? Hope they guy is OK as that was a terrible shellacking he took in there

[keithmoonhangover]

Anyone else notice the intentional headbutt? What was that all about? Ref should have least acknowledged it.

[JamesPhilips]

Anyone else notice the intentional headbutt? What was that all about? Ref should have least acknowledged it.

What round?

Also the ref calling the end of the round at the clacker is inexcusable

[forcefraser]

Anyone else notice the intentional headbutt? What was that all about? Ref should have least acknowledged it.

I saw it and an elbow looked like it started the swelling on the right eye

[handsofstone]

The last few rounds were uncomfortable viewing, think it was the start of the 9th Wardley was having his best spell in a long time but the wheels came well and truly off before the round was out, although I knew it had to be stopped, the masochist in me wanted it to carry on, probably because I always felt Wardley might clock him out of nowhere, he'll always throw no matter what state he's in

[rd350lc]

Terrible short sighted corner work.
He may never fight again, that bridge of the nose never seems to heal.
Utter warrior and too brave for his own good.
The corner are there for that purpose..

[Oiky]

Ben davison has come out and said he didnt see wardley stagger to the doctor at the start of round 10 as ironically they were discussing having a towel ready, and by the time theyd turned back to look at wardley he was steadier on his feet which is what they saw

100% the fight should have been stopped

You cant go to the well like that too often

[JC]

On the one hand I get that, given his record of hail mary KOs, they might be more reluctant to pull Wardley out than other fighters.

But when he came out on shaky legs at the start of the 9th (I think was?) I felt like they should have called it.

edit: was typing this when the post above was made.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ben has said he could have been saved earlier..
As you said though; his history of landing a Hail Mary..

[londonwar]

i noted the groan from the crowd when allegedly said there was a rematch clause. He seemed momentarily flumoxed by that

[paultom]

i noted the groan from the crowd when allegedly said there was a rematch clause. He seemed momentarily flumoxed by that

Wardley doesn't really want to be fighting again this year, DD needs to keep up the momentum and not be held up now

[gilgamesh]

i noted the groan from the crowd when allegedly said there was a rematch clause. He seemed momentarily flumoxed by that

Wardley doesn't really want to be fighting again this year, DD needs to keep up the momentum and not be held up now

Wardley is certainly gonna need surgery on that nose. That was a severe break for sure. I wouldn't doubt if his jaw or orbital bone may be injured as well he took A LOT of heavy right hands flush on the face.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Ben davison has come out and said he didnt see wardley stagger to the doctor at the start of round 10 as ironically they were discussing having a towel ready, and by the time theyd turned back to look at wardley he was steadier on his feet which is what they saw

100% the fight should have been stopped

You cant go to the well like that too often

Bullshit.

If it is true then hes no business being a cornerman, wtf was he doing, watching TikTok?

Utter utter rubbish.

[jamesmcdonnell]

i noted the groan from the crowd when allegedly said there was a rematch clause. He seemed momentarily flumoxed by that

Wardley doesn't really want to be fighting again this year, DD needs to keep up the momentum and not be held up now

Wardley is certainly gonna need surgery on that nose. That was a severe break for sure. I wouldn't doubt if his jaw or orbital bone may be injured as well he took A LOT of heavy right hands flush on the face.

Hes already had serious issues with his nose, had tonnes of thick scar tissue even before that.

His family need to have a word with him. He needs to turn it in.

Hes done incredibly well, he must have made a decent chunk, he should start a white collar promotional outfit and call it a day

Id imagine he could do very well with that kind of business.

[gilgamesh]

Wardley doesn't really want to be fighting again this year, DD needs to keep up the momentum and not be held up now

Wardley is certainly gonna need surgery on that nose. That was a severe break for sure. I wouldn't doubt if his jaw or orbital bone may be injured as well he took A LOT of heavy right hands flush on the face.

Hes already had serious issues with his nose, had tonnes of thick scar tissue even before that.

His family need to have a word with him. He needs to turn it in.

Hes done incredibly well, he must have made a decent chunk, he should start a white collar promotional outfit and call it a day

Id imagine he could do very well with that kind of business.

You may be right. It's definitely hard to imagine he could get as far as he's gotten again with the injuries and the damage piling up, and the limitations in his game getting exposed more and more.

That's the trouble with the fight game. The more you do something well. The more people get a chance to figure out what it is you do well, and how to avoid it.

That being said. I doubt very seriously Wardley is going to pack it all in over 1 defeat, no matter how damaging. He's still certainly got at least 1 more big payday waiting for him in the fight business, and potentially a good bit more than that if all goes well.

I wish him the best whatever he does.