Daniel Dubois climbs off canvas twice to dismantle Fabio Wardley and win world title in chaotic classic

Daniel Dubois won a chaotic instant classic with Fabio Wardley on Saturday night, climbing off the canvas twice to win the WBO heavyweight title.

Wardley dropped his fellow Briton with perhaps the second punch he threw, before putting Dubois down again in the third frame. At that juncture, a victory for the 28-year-old seemed beyond improbable.

But Dubois, a former IBF champion, finally silenced the longstanding questions about his heart to turn the tide. He gradually dismantled Wardley, 31, whose nose was a bloody mess and whose right eye was close to shutting.

Daniel Dubois (right) somehow found a way past Fabio Wardley after major adversity early on (Reuters)

After the referee seemed to consider stopping the bout a few times, he ultimately awarded Dubois an 11th-round win in Manchester. With that, Wardley was beaten for the first time.

“I know I’ve got heart, bundles of heart,” said Dubois in the ring after the fight. “I’m a warrior in there. [The first knockdown was a] flash knockdown, you have to get back up and come back harder, man. I’m a warrior. I thank Fabio for a great fight, man. I thank this team, and we move on now. All glory to God for this victory.”

Wardley thanked the crowd on his way out of the arena, before Frank Warren – who promotes both men – revealed there was a rematch clause in the contract for Saturday’s main event.

The result marked Wardley’s first loss (20-1-1, 19 KOs), as he was beaten in his first defence of a world title. Last time out, in October, he fought from behind to knock out Joseph Parker and win the interim WBO heavyweight belt – which was soon upgraded when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the official title.