Dubois was knocked down twice in the early rounds, specifically in the first and third, but demonstrated immense heart and resilience to recover and turn the tide of the fight.
He gradually dismantled Wardley, whose face became a bloody mess due to a pre-existing nasal injury and whose right eye was almost shut from Dubois’s sustained attack.
The referee ultimately stopped the bout in the 11th round, awarding Dubois the victory and marking Wardley’s first professional loss.
The win silenced long-standing questions about Dubois’s determination and marked his second world title, with a rematch clause reportedly included in the fight contract.
