LONDON — Daniel Dubois successfully defended his WBO heavyweight title this past weekend, securing a dominant second-round stoppage victory over challenger Fabio Wardley. The contest, held in London, saw the champion drop Wardley within the opening twenty seconds before forcing the towel to be thrown in during the second round.
Promoter Eddie Hearn, who previously worked with Wardley, discussed the outcome and revealed the reaction of Anthony Joshua, who was stopped by Dubois in 2024. “I was texting him during and after the fight. I think he was quite surprised how quickly it went,” Hearn said on the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel. “It was just a shootout, and I think maybe Wardley thought his real chance comes in the first three or four rounds here.”
Hearn noted that while Wardley possesses a resilient chin, the challenger appeared physically different in this encounter. “It’s just the body language for me, and physically I don’t think he looked in the same kind of shape. I don’t think he came into the ring with the same confidence,” Hearn added. Following the defeat, Wardley has expressed his intention to return to the ring and pursue world honours in the future, a situation that has prompted discussion regarding his career path.