DANIEL DUBOIS BECOMES WBO HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION DEFEARING FABIO WARDLEY BY 11TH ROUND KNOCKOUT

 

Credit: Richard Sellers/PA Wire

Daniel Dubois is now a two-time heavyweight world champion.

The 28 year old from Greenwich survived two knockdowns, the first after just 10 seconds, to beat Fabio Wardley in the 11th round of a thrilling fight in Manchester. Dubois now holds the WBO version of the heavyweight title.

The professional boxer weathered the early onslaught and started to land some punishing shots of his own, leaving Wardley’s face bloodied and battered.

The referee ended the match at the start of the penultimate round.

Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois during their WBO heavyweight title bout at Co-op Live, Manchester.
Credit: Richard Sellers/PA Wire

Dubois claims he called on his "warrior spirit" in the ring. He said:

“I had to get back up, bounce it off and come back harder. I’m a warrior.

“I had to pull it out the bag and rely on (the jab) and use all of my skills. What a great fight, what a great battle. But, I’m number one again.”

Dubois added, “I want to grow from this fight, improve and come back even better and go on a reign as champion again.”

The world champion halted Wardley’s fairytale run from white-collar boxer to WBO title holder, and quietened critics who have questioned his spirit.

Fabio Wardley lost out on his hopes of winning the title last night.
Credit: Richard Sellers/PA Wire

He faced accusations of “quitting” when he lost to Joe Joyce in 2020 and this week Dubois walked out of two interviews as he looked to get back into the win column after losing his IBF title 11 months ago.

A second defeat to heavyweight kingpin Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley Stadium was followed by footage emerging of Dubois hosting a party at his house just hours before being taken out in the fifth round.

His trainer Don Charles, who Dubois fired and rehired since then, promised there would be no repeat of a pre-fight “gathering” after his charge was granted an immediate shot at winning another world title

- itv

DANIEL DUBOIS ANNOUNCES 3 MAN HIT LIST AS RETURN TIMELINE REVEALED: "THAT'S IT"

Daniel Dubois is eager to return to the ring and continue the form he showed over the last eighteen months.

Image credit: Matchroom

Last year was a standout for Dubois, who finally announced himself on the world stage after plenty of ups and downs earlier in his career, including a loss to Joe Joyce.

2023 ended with a big finish against Jarrell Miller which showed he could come through tough moments in a fight, hold his nerve and impose himself. It was a similar story in June when he took on the well-ranked Filip Hrgovic and, despite a tough start, got the stoppage win in the mid-rounds,

Best of all was in September when he knocked out former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua inside five rounds at Wembley Stadium.

Dubois was then due to take on Joseph Parker in February but fell ill and is now looking to get back to winning ways. Sitting ringside for Joyce’s recent loss to Hrgovic, Dubois was asked by BoxNation who he wants next and gave three names.

“I want the three big names Usyk, Parker, or AJ. Those are my focus. That’s it.”

Right now, ‘AJ’ is on the sidelines recovering from a small injury but will always be interested in a rematch, while Parker is currently sitting pretty as the WBO Mandatory to Usyk, a fight which has been ordered.

However, the most likely next option is a rematch with Usyk, who beat Dubois in August of 2023. The pair can now face off for the undisputed title – in July and potentially at Wembley – and it is understood that the sanctioning bodies will allow it to take place ahead of the mandatory defences – Parker for Usyk and Derek Chisora for Dubois.

- Kristan Caryl

JOE JOYCE BELIEVES HE WILL REPEAT THE WIN OVER FILIP HRGOVIC: "I LOOK FORWARD TO KNOCKING HIM OUT ON SATURDAY NIGHT"

Joe Joyce vs Filip Hrgovic press conference quotes

The leading cast for the ‘Heavy Impact’ card that will take place on Saturday at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester gathered at the venue today for the final press conference ahead of fight night, being broadcast live on DAZN.

Joe Joyce goes up against Filip Hrgovic in the headline attraction, with the British heavyweight title being fought for between David Adeleye and Jeamie TKV.

Frank Warren

“Saturday is a new era for us, we are on DAZN and we will be seen worldwide, which is a great, great showcase for all the fighters. We are competitive, like the boxers and certainly like the rest of the promoters on DAZN, we aim to be the best and put the best shows on and our start is a fabulous one.

“The main event between Joe and Filip is a cracker of a fight, it is a fight with jeopardy involved where the winner will go on and the loser will have a hard, hard task to get back into the mix at the top. We all know what is on the line and they know that better than anybody else in this room. So I am looking forward to a great fight and a fabulous, fabulous undercard.”

Joe Joyce

“It is a great fight, entertainment, and I expect a great performance. It is good to share the ring with Hrgovic again, we had a good scrap last time about 12 years ago. The same result is going to happen, I’m going to win and then get elevated back up to the top of the sport. I am really excited to be here again, there is a lot of excitement here and it is going to be a great night of boxing.

“I know exactly what to expect from him and I have worked with Abel [trainer, Sanchez] before. He’s got a lot of mileage and has been in the sport a long time and had a lot of hard fights. I look forward to knocking him out on Saturday night.”

Filip Hrgovic

“Are we still main event after this? It was short notice, a few weeks, but I was already in good shape. That is why I accepted this fight and I think this is a good opportunity for me. This win, hopefully on Saturday, brings me back to the top and it is good to be part of this.

“Thanks to Queensberry and DAZN and I am looking forward to the win on Saturday, to knock him out and get back to the top. That is the plan. My motivation is big, for sure. I want to be back at the top and, like Frank said, the loser will be in a very bad position. I don’t want to lose.

“Man he is 40 years old. If he is 39 then he is young, I didn’t know that. Look, he is definitely not in the peak of his career, fighters get older and that is the reality, I am seven years younger. I think it will play a role in this fight.”

Jeamie TKV

“I am even more excited about this fight, To be honest, I am offended. I am offended by David’s behaviour. He knows me and I know him and the way he has been going about talking I am offending. The way he has been behaving is very disrespectful. I don’t take that lightly and I’m going to show him on Saturday.

“This persona that he is putting on, this bad boy persona. We are both educated men, both raised by great parents. So what are you? An academic gangster? I don’t know where this persona comes from my brother. You say you are going to knock me out, but when I say it I am being disrespectful?

“You are taking it personally that I am taking this fight. I see a scared man and I know when I see a scared man. What happened at Talksport was he couldn’t get to me, he tried saying I had lost too much weight and wouldn’t hold his shots. He got frustrated because I’m not reacting to him, so he decided to pipe up for no reason. He tried to pull up in my face."

David Adeleye

“All this educated gangster, I am just being myself. Of course it is personal, we are fighting in 48 hours. You don’t see a scared man, where do you see fear in me? Scared of what?

“You can ask me what happened at Talksport on Monday, I just cussed his weight, I cussed his appearance and he is obviously insecure about it. He’s got this cameraman, this Harry Hill looking guy recording and editing in a certain way. I did want to take this fight, me and you spoke on the phone and your managers were calling mine. What are you talking about?

“You called me and said I know you’re going to do Dacres and after that you were saying ‘you’re the truth’. Your manager said to me there is nothing for Jeamie, nothing going on for Jeamie and we know he ain’t getting nothing. Let’s be real about it. You’re a bitch. Every time I fight security come because they know I’m on smoke, with you there is no security.”

Delicious Orie

“I am just happy to be here, to be honest. When I started boxing in 2016 I saw Joyce win his silver medal, Hrgovic his bronze, David Adeleye and Jeamie TKV doing their thing as elite amateurs, so I was looking up to these guys. Here I am sat with them at the table, on the same card, I am living life at the moment.

“It will be different, there is a slight adaptation and for the last eight years I have just been focused on the Olympics, so for the last three months I have been working with Grant Smith in Sheffield just working on digging in a little bit more, planting my feet, getting used to the smaller gloves as well. I just can’t wait to put it all together this Saturday.

“Professional boxing is different. As an amateur I go in there to score the points to get my hand raised. It is different now, I actually have to hurt my opponent. That is the kind of spite I have been talking about.”

- Tim Rickson

DEREK CHISORA STUNS JOE JOYCE WITH UNANIMOUS VICTORY

Derek Chisora knocked Joe Joyce down in the ninth round. Warren Little/Getty Images

Derek Chisora beat Joe Joyce via unanimous decision in London on Saturday in a remarkable upset victory following 10 gruelling rounds between two British rivals.

Joyce was knocked down in the ninth round after taking on a barrage of punches throughout the fight he was largely expected to win.

The result leaves Joyce's career at a crossroads after three defeats in his last four bouts.

Chisora, clearly keen for a brawl, came out swinging from the opening bell, but Joyce absorbed everything and continued to come forward.

The inevitable gripping slugfest everyone had anticipated was soon in motion.

By the fourth round as his shots kept coming, the crowd was well and truly on Chisora's back, willing him to bite down on his gum shield and continue. He of course duly obliged.

Whenever it looked as though Joyce may be starting to gain some control, Chisora, 40, came out swinging again and landed clean punch after clean punch.

He proved a tricky target for Joyce, but he was clearly fatigued by round five. The toll was clear as he collapsed onto his stool at the end of round seven, gasping for air.

Chisora was cheered on by undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who was barking advice and encouragement from ringside at one stage.

In round nine, the arena stormed to its feet as Joyce was knocked down.

Chisora would have been grateful for the breather more than anything. His experience showed as he danced around the ring to see out the remainder of the bout and score an incredible victory.

In his 10th and potentially final fight at The O2 Arena, there was a warm affection from the London crowd at the end for Chisora, a cult hero of British boxing, as he closes in on 50 professional fights.

Joyce insisted after the fight he will continue, but this was seen as a must win by many.

Chisora, meanwhile, will bask in the glory of his win for some time to come, and will almost certainly want more after another spirited victory.

"I knew he [Joyce] was tough, but Jesus Christ, that guy is tough," Chisora told his post fight news conference.

"For a couple rounds, I was moving back my legs were just all over the place. But, you know, it was just two big guys in there bro. The whole point is to stay up and just keep moving.

"It was beautiful and tough at the same time. Yeah, it was hard."

Asked what Usyk was telling him during the fight, Chisora said: "He was saying 'move, move, move,' but everybody was telling me to move, bro. I wanted to move but my legs didn't want to move. They were like 'nah mother-----.'"

Promoter Frank Warren hailed the efforts of both men and said he'd never seen anything like the clash before.

"So were you entertained or what tonight?" Warren asked his post-fight news conference.

"I didn't think it would go to distance. I thought that obviously the favorite was Joe. [But] you know, it takes two gladiators to create a fight like that. Both of them, you've got to take your hat off to them.

"I thought it was the last two rounds which decided it in Derek's favour, it was a very close fight, but amazing. Look at their ages ... I don't know how Derek does it, I don't know how Joe does it.

"They did not miss at each other at times. Every punch they were throwing was connecting."

Asked what would be next for Joyce after another defeat, Warren said: "It's too soon [to say]. I've said that I felt the loser in this fight would have nowhere to go. But I never predicted or thought it would be a fight like this. I thought it would be competitive, but I didn't think it would be like this million years."

- James Regan

JOSEPH PARKER UPSETS DEONTAY WILDER WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Joseph Parker dominated Deontay Wilder on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, en route to the major upset in a battle of former heavyweight champions.

New Zealand's Parker prevailed via scores of 118-111, 118-110 and 120-108.

Wilder entered the bout as a -700 favorite, per ESPN BET, and did so with a deal in place to meet Anthony Joshua on March 9 in Riyadh, sources said. That agreement was contingent on Wilder and Joshua both winning.

Parker's victory over Wilder, which spoils those plans, was the co-feature to Joshua vs. Otto Wallin.

"Coming into this fight, everyone had other plans, but this is God's plan," said Parker, ESPN's No. 8 heavyweight. "Today, what a win. Merry Christmas to us."

Parker's strategy was a wise one: to avoid Wilder's dangerous right hand while forcing him to respect his foe's power. Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) timed Wilder early and often with looping right hands over the top.

The game plan seemingly made Wilder reluctant to unload his trademark reckless right hand that always finds its mark. But at 38 years old and with only one round of activity since November 2021, the American fighter admitted his "timing was off a little bit."

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