Daniel Dubois climbed off the canvas twice to stop Fabio Wardley in the 11th round and become the WBO heavyweight world champion after an epic battle in Manchester on Saturday.
Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) was dropped in both the first and third rounds, but roared back to halt Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs) in the penultimate round at the Co-op Live Arena.
With the pair entering the clash each with a 95% knockout ratio, few expected it to go the distance and it appeared an early night was on the cards in the opening 10 seconds.
Wardley, making a first defence of his WBO crown, detonated a vicious right hand which floored his rival to the seat of his pants.
The 28-year-old recovered well and established his piston-like jab by the second round.
However, the champion fired back in the third round, with another brutal right hand shaking ‘Dynamite’ and sending him to the canvas.
Wardley’s success faded after the third round though, as the former IBF titlist launched a relentless onslaught.
The Ipswich man looked out on his feet by the halfway mark and appeared on the verge of being stopped at the end of the sixth, following a barrage of blows.
The 31-year-old’s face was a bloody mess by the seventh round, although he bravely swung for the fences in the hopes of landing his signature right hand, which took out both Joseph Parker and Justis Huni in his last two bouts.
With his right eye closed at the start of the ninth, Wardley was checked by the ringside doctor, but he was allowed to continue.
Dubois, coming into the clash off a fifth round knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk last August, stunned his rival with another right hand and Wardley looked completely spent.
He was again checked by the ringside doctor at the start of the 10th round, although he was forced to ship yet more punishment.
However, his brave race was run at the start of the 11th round, with a three-punch assault prompting referee Howard Foster to finally intervene and crown Dubois a two-time heavyweight world champion.
Wardley suffered the first defeat of his professional career.
“I thank Fabio for a great fight,” Dubois said post-fight.
“It was an honour to be in the ring with him.”
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Rafferty retires Essuman
Jack Rafferty forced Eko Essuman to retire after the sixth round of their welterweight clash.
Essuman (22-3, 8 KOs) suffered a bad cut in the third round and blood was streaming down his left eye throughout the bout.
With his eye not improving, ’The Engine’ was pulled out by his corner, with Rafferty (27-0-1, 18 KOs) returning to winning ways after a majority draw with Mark Chamberlain in August and claiming the WBA Gold welterweight title.
Rea stops Cameron
Bradley Rea returned to winning ways with a fourth round stoppage of Liam Cameron.
Rea (22-2, 11 KOs) who was beaten by Lyndon Arthur in November, floored Cameron (24-8-1, 10 KOs) with a hard right hand in the fourth.
The Sheffield man rose to his feet, but a follow-up assault had him down again and the referee waved it off.
Rea became the second man to halt Cameron, who’d only previously been stopped by Ben Whittaker and claimed the WBA International light heavyweight title in the process.
Chelli stuns Morrell
Zak Chelli produced a huge upset, stopping David Morrell in the 10th and final round.
Morrell (12-2, 9 KOs) agreed to face Chelli (17-3-1, 9 KOs) on late notice after his scheduled clash with Callum Smith last month was cancelled.
The former two-weight world champion looked to be coasting to a decision victory, however the Cuban unravelled in a disastrous ninth round where he just about survived a huge onslaught.
Chelli kept the pressure on in the final round and after pinning Morrell onto the ropes, he landed a series of unanswered punches which forced the referee’s intervention.
Gwynne overcomes Majid
Gavin Gwynne breathed new life into his career, beating the previously Khaleel Majid (16-1, 4 KOs) by majority decision in a thriller.
Moving up to super lightweight, Gwynne (19-4-2, 5 KOs) put in a relentless display to emerge victorious by two scores of 96-94, overruling a 95-95 card and take the vacant WBA International crown.
Remaining Undercard
Heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov (17-0, 5 KOs) remained undefeated after forcing a seventh round retirement over Agron Smakici (21-4, 19 KOs).
Former cruiserweight world title challenger, Mike Perez (32-3-1, 22 KOs) snapped the unbeaten record of Franklin Arinze (10-1, 7 KOs) with a points victory.
WHAT A SHOT FROM UMMATALIEV
#WardleyDubois | Today | @thecooplive, Manchester | Buy the PPV on @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/le8wou7JUh
— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) May 9, 2026
Uzbekistan super middleweight prospect, Javokhir Ummataliev (2-0, 1 KO) made it two straight wins with a brutal second round knockout of Damian Drabik (5-3, 5 KOs).
Irish super welterweight, Bobbi Flood made it two straight professional victories with a points win over Nathan Darby at super welterweight and Issiah Hamilton-Allen (2-0) did the same against Connor Goulding (6-11) also at 154 pounds.
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