Daniel Dubois rose from the canvas twice to become a two-time heavyweight world champion after defeating Fabio Wardley in an all-British showdown at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena.
It looked like it was going to be a short night. Former IBF champion Dubois was floored for the first time after just 10 seconds, and he went down again soon after as Wardley dominated the opening three rounds.
But the 28-year-old got back up, and the momentum of the fight soon began to swing as Dubois announced himself back in the big time. Wardley, who was unbeaten going into the fight, took heavy shots and his nose was split open, but he refused to give up and fought on bravely before finally being stopped in the 11th round.
"It was a war. Thank you Fabio for that. I know I've got heart, I'm a warrior in there," Dubois said. "I had to get back up (after 10 seconds) and come back harder. We move on now. Thank god for this victory."
"I had to use all my skills. I'm No 1 again. Fabio's a durable guy, a great warrior. It was an honour to be in the ring with him," he added.
Dubois can now look forward to bigger fights ahead. He could face Wardley again, as promoter Frank Warren said in the immediate aftermath of the win that there was a rematch clause in the contract for the fight.
"These two guys showed such heart. It was an amazing fight, absorbing. It had everything. The best heavyweight fight I've ever put on," Warren said. "Let the dust settle and then we'll see (what happens next). Fabio is a brave and gutsy (man)."
Two big hitters collide
Expectations for a concussive explosion at the Co-Op Live Arena were rampant, with few if any takers at the bookies for the prospect of both men remaining upright through all 12 rounds of the WBO title fight. Wardley and Dubois had each stopped more than 90 per cent of their opponents heading into the bout.
Wardley had built several of his knockouts by staying resilient no matter how long it took to land the telling punch, as he did when coming from behind against Joseph Parker to win the WBO title. Dubois, by contrast, prefers to waste as little time as possible, as he did when dropping Anthony Joshua four times inside five rounds to win the IBF belt.
The fight drew a crowd of 23,500. At 18 stone, Dubois was the heaviest of his career, even bulkier than when he beat Joshua.
Dubois floored twice early
Wardley connected with the first haymaker within 10 seconds and dropped his challenger to the canvas. Dubois rose, and both fighters were soon rocking each other with heavy artillery. In the second round, Dubois's jab had Wardley wobbling before another big shot from Wardley put Dubois down again.
Dubois got back up, and both fighters kept throwing big punches. His left jab began to reap dividends as Wardley's right eye swelled up, and Dubois started to build momentum in the exchanges.
Wardley's brave stand
Dubois smelled blood and launched a massive barrage. Wardley reeled from ropes to ropes but survived as referee Howard Foster took a worried look at him. The pounding brought blood pouring from Wardley's nose in the seventh round, and the referee saved him by mistakenly stopping the round early.
A semi-conscious Wardley fought on into the eighth round, staggering from pain to agony but still finding the energy to strike back and rock Dubois. At the end of the round, the referee assessed Wardley's wounds and decided the contest should continue.
Before the 10th round, Wardley stumbled into the centre of the ring and a doctor had to intervene to allow the Ipswich fighter to continue. Even so, he was still swinging big punches, and the bell saved him as he struggled to see out of his right eye.
Referee Howard Foster finally stopped the fight 28 seconds into the 11th round.
