Fabio Wardley suffered his first career defeat on Saturday in Manchester, losing his WBO world heavyweight title to Daniel Dubois in a thrilling battle that will be remembered as an instant classic.
Despite being dropped twice early in the fight, Wardley displayed immense courage, absorbing heavy punishment from Dubois before the referee stepped in to stop the contest in the penultimate round. The Ipswich-born fighter started strong with two knockdowns, but Dubois regained composure and gradually took over with superior accuracy and power.
In his first public comments since the fight, Wardley acknowledged the historic nature of the contest and thanked his supporters.
“My body failed me, but not my heart. And that I can live with… Congratulations Daniel Dubois, thank you for a great fight worthy of the history books. Thank you to the city of Manchester and everyone that has been along on this journey with me,” Wardley wrote on social media.
Though he did not provide an update on his recovery, sources close to the former champion confirmed he received stitches at the arena and was later taken to hospital before being discharged to recover at home with his family.
A rematch clause has been triggered, giving Wardley the option to step back into the ring with Dubois immediately. However, many boxing observers urge him to fully recover before making any fight plans.
If a second meeting does not materialize or happens further down the line, Dubois has several intriguing options, including Moses Itauma. According to WBO President Gustavo Olivieri, Itauma is expected to soon be named mandatory challenger.
