Dubois becomes two-time heavyweight world champion…

Daniel Dubois captured the WBO heavyweight world title on May 9, 2026, defeating Fabio Wardley via an 11th-round knockout at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester.

The victory marks Dubois as a two-time world champion after he recovered from two early knockdowns to secure the win in front of a crowd of 18,000.

The contest began with an immediate shock when Wardley landed an overhand right just 10 seconds into the first round, sending Dubois to the canvas. Dubois recovered, but Wardley scored a second knockdown in the third round with a right hook following a jab.

Dubois shifted the momentum in the fourth round, landing a right hand to the side of Wardley’s head that appeared to stiffen the champion’s legs. From that point, Dubois maintained control, applying consistent power shots throughout the remainder of the fight.

By the 11th round, Wardley had suffered significant damage, including a damaged nose and one eye that was swollen shut. The referee halted the bout as Wardley struggled to remain upright, awarding the knockout victory to Dubois.

Following the stoppage, Dubois spoke with DAZN about the nature of the fight and his resilience.

It was a war, thank you Fabio for that, thank you. I know I’ve got heart, bundles of heart. I’m a warrior in there. I had to get back up, bounce it off and come back harder. I’m a warrior.

Daniel Dubois

The result brings Dubois’ professional record to 23-3 with 22 knockouts. This appearance was his first since July 2025, when he lost the IBF title to Oleksandr Usyk.

For Wardley, the loss is his first in 22 fights, leaving him with a record of 20-1-1 with 19 knockouts. Wardley entered the ring as the WBO champion, having seen his interim title, won against Joseph Parker, upgraded in November 2025.

Fight Details and Context

The event, promoted under the tagline Don’t Blink, saw some pre-fight tension when Dubois arrived at the venue one hour later than Wardley due to traffic in Manchester.

Wardley, representing Ipswich, entered the ring wearing an Ipswich Town Football Club robe. Despite the early success in the first three rounds, he was unable to withstand the subsequent pressure applied by the 28-year-old Dubois.

Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed that the agreement between the two fighters includes a rematch clause.