Dubois stops Wardley in a brutal fight, becomes two-time heavyweight champion

Daniel Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) stopped Fabio Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs) in round eleven on Saturday night in Manchester and became two-time heavyweight world champion. Fight was for WBO World title which Wardley held. Wardley started strongly and dropped Dubois twice, once in round one and once in round three.

But Dubois dominated in the second part of the fight and Wardleys nose was damaged badly and also had the right eye swollen. After a series of punches in round 11, referee Howard Foster decided that he has seen enough and stopped the fight.

Dubois held before the IBF World title but lost it when he was stopped by Oleksandr Usyk in round five in the fight for undisputed title.

For Wardley was first loss in his professional boxing career.

Promoter Frank Warren, who before the fight boasted this would be the UK's version of the legendary 1985 bout between Americans Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns, said it was the best heavyweight bout he had staged and also confirmed there is a rematch clause.

Both fighters will likely need a lengthy layoff given the nature of the bout, but a rematch appears likely since fans were left wanting more.

In a major upset, two-time world champion David Morrell (12-2) was stopped in last round by Zak Chelli (17-3-1) in a 10-round light-heavyweight title. Referee Darren Sarginson stopped the fight 35 seconds before the end of round 10.