Daniel Dubois Declares Himself 'Champion-Elect' After Dominant Victory Over Fabio Wardley
Dubois showcased explosive power, stopping Wardley in the second round to stake his claim in the heavyweight division.
Daniel Dubois has declared himself the "champion-elect" following his decisive second-round knockout victory over Fabio Wardley. The powerful performance at the O2 Arena announced Dubois as a formidable force in the heavyweight division, with promoter Jeff Powell MBE noting that the "next generation of heavyweights has arrived."
"Fabio is a great boy, coming in for the second time, but it was my time, and my era," Dubois stated after the fight. "I had my intentions, bad intentions, from the beginning."
Wardley, who lost his WBO title to Dubois five months prior, was unable to withstand Dubois's early onslaught in their rematch. Dubois landed a stunning right-hander just 17 seconds into the fight, stunning Wardley and setting the tone for the bout. The referee stopped the fight in the second round as Dubois continued to rain down powerful blows.
One of the rival world champions, Filip Hrgovic, was in attendance and appeared shaken by Dubois's ferocity. Other champions, such as Agit Kabayel and the potential winner of the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua bout, may be hesitant to face Dubois, who is now considered a favorite to pursue the undisputed championship.
"I'm the champion now, and I want to get some big fights in," Dubois added. "At this stage in my career, big money, big fights."
Their first bout in Manchester saw Dubois knocked down twice before securing the victory. This rematch, promoted with the warning "Don't Blink," lived up to its billing. Both fighters had predicted an early finish, and Dubois delivered, much to the disappointment of the crowd who had largely supported Wardley.
Wardley acknowledged his failure to execute the game plan. "I just came in and I didn't execute the game plan properly," he admitted. "I hold my hands up to that; that is entirely down to me."
Despite the defeat, Wardley reflected positively on the experience, noting that "A little white-collar boy like me could never have dreamed like this," referencing his rise to a sold-out O2 Arena.