Dubois destroys Wardley, records 2nd round TKO in rematch

After needing nearly 11 rounds to finish the job in a brutal fight and win the WBO heavyweight title in Manchester just 161 days ago, The Ring’s No. 1 heavyweight contender quickly tore Wardley to pieces in his rematch. Ben Davison and Rob Hodgins, Wardley’s training squad, have been criticized for leaving their man too long. On May 9, it was Davison who threw in the towel to cancel this one-sided rematch.

Referee Steve Gray stopped the action at 2:21 of the second round.

Back in Manchester, Wardley dropped Dubois after just 16 seconds, with the very first right hand he threw. But it was a total role reversal here as Dubois dropped Wardley after 17 seconds with a right hand of his own.

It was the first time in his entire life that Wardley, the former white-collar boxer, had fallen to the ground. With more than 2 and a half minutes left on the clock, he found himself in the middle of a crisis. But even though Wardley couldn’t capitalize on May’s early breakthrough, Dubois had no respite (24-3, 23 KOs).

With so long to play, it seemed the writing was on the wall as the Londoner landed more devastating right hands. The beating was so one-sided that Davison was on the ring apron with a towel in his hand as the first round entered its final 10 seconds.

Wardley (20-2-1, 19 KO) managed to reach the bell, but there would be no dramatic turnaround here. Instead, the second round continued in exactly the same fashion, with Wardley simply unable to land anything to slow Dubois down.

Just like in Manchester, Wardley would not end the fight on his back, but rather against the ropes, taking even heavier punishment. This time the sponge came in and the pain was gone for Wardley, who failed in his challenge to regain his title.

“It just didn’t work for me tonight,” Wardley said. “It’s a nod and a credit to how well Daniel prepared. Boxing is a game with fine margins. That’s how it was. I wasn’t excited, so there’s a bit of pride to be taken.”

As always, Wardley made his way to the ring to the sounds of Roy Jones Jr.’s “Can’t Be Touched.” Only this time, Jones himself was in attendance, as one of his boxers, Tony Curtis Jr., boxed on the undercard. Wardley received a very warm welcome while Dubois was booed upon arrival and then again when his name was read. Whether that had anything to do with the fast start is another matter, but it certainly didn’t do anything to slow him down.

“I hope you had fun tonight,” said a beaming Dubois. “Aren’t you having fun? Fabio is a great warrior.”

Remaining undefeated in the first 21 fights of his career, the painful defeat means Ipswich’s Wardley has now lost twice in five months. The Ring’s No. 5 heavyweight now faces a long walk to the top.

Asked if this rematch might have come too soon, given how quickly Dubois went about things, Wardley said: “No, not at all, not at all. I just didn’t execute the game plan properly, that’s all. I put my hands up, it was my fault. There’s no blame to be passed around.

“Daniel himself is a testament to defeat and bounce back and I will look to do the same. It wasn’t my night tonight, but I will come back stronger.”

Gn sports

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