Dubois defeats Wardley by second-round TKO in heavyweight title rematch

Daniel Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title on Saturday night in London, stopping challenger Fabio Wardley at 2:21 of the second round. The referee halted the bout after Dubois delivered a series of right hands that left Wardley unable to defend himself effectively.

Wardley, who had knocked Dubois down in their first encounter in Manchester, was himself knocked down 17 seconds into the rematch. He rose to the bell but was unable to mount a sustained offense, and his corner threw in the towel as the second round progressed.

"It just didn’t work for me tonight," Wardley said after the fight. "It’s a nod and credit to how well Daniel has prepared. Boxing is a game of fine margins. I didn’t get sparked out, so there’s a little bit of pride to be taken."

"I hope you guys were entertained tonight," Dubois added. "Fabio is a great warrior."

The stoppage marked Dubois' second knockout victory in his last 21 fights, improving his record to 24-3 with 23 knockouts. Wardley, now 20-2-1 with 19 knockouts, suffered his second loss in five months and will need to rebuild his standing in the heavyweight division.