Dubois vs Wardley 2: Londoner retains title with dominant second-round stoppage

A sell-out crowd of 19,000 packed the O2 Arena and made their allegiances clear.

Wardley’s charismatic but measured persona has made him a well-liked determine. He appeared stuffed with function as he took his time on stage, fireworks exploding in entrance of him, his normal smile changed by a glance of willpower.

Dubois, in the meantime, was greeted by jeers as he marched straight previous the fireworks and in direction of the ring, losing little time absorbing the event.

Actor Paddy Considine, comic Rob Beckett, Oasis star Noel Gallagher and darts globe champion Luke Littler have been among the many well-known faces in attendance.

With 41 knockouts between the fighters, few anticipated the judges to be known as upon. The feeling beforehand was that Wardley’s greatest probability lay in making one other quick begin, having dropped Dubois contained in the opening moments of their first assembly.

But in a shocking reversal, it took simply 17 seconds for Wardley to hit the canvas as Dubois backed him right into a nook and landed a straight proper.

Chants of ‘oh Fabio Wardley’ have been rapidly silenced as Dubois continued to unload punishing combos. Another livid assault in direction of the tip of the spherical left Wardley in serious trouble.

Trainer Ben Davison, criticised for not withdrawing Wardley sooner of their first contest, stood poised with a towel in his hand as his fighter survived to the bell.

There had already been considerations over whether or not Wardley had returned too rapidly after the punishment he absorbed in May, when he was left bloodied and badly swollen.

And these fears appeared justified because the challenger struggled to deal with Dubois’ relentless stress. Wardley’s arms have been low and his punches wild and telegraphed, missing the menace he had proven in Manchester.

Backed into the nook once more within the second spherical, he was subjected to a different barrage earlier than Davison leapt up and threw within the towel.