Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois live results update

On May 9, at the Co-op Live Arena, Manchester, Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois headlines a Queensberry Promotions fight card, live on DAZN. The main event will be for Wardley’s WBO heavyweight title.

We’ll bring you all the results from the Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois main fight card. The first fight is scheduled to begin at approximately 18:30 GMT/13:30 ET.

All results from Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois on May 9

Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois

After an entertaining undercard, it was time for Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois for Wardley’s WBO heavyweight title.

It was an action-packed opening round, with just seconds into the fight, Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs) landed a right hand, knocking Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) down. Wardley looked sharp throughout the opening three minutes, while Dubois struggled to get any kind of control.

Dubois enjoyed a much better second round, using his jab and moving his feet, and landing a right hand, which Wardley took well but clearly felt. It was a fascinating fight through the first two rounds. A big right hand from the Ipswich man in the third round floored Dubois again, who looked shell-shocked. Dubois recovered well and landed a big right hand of his own that Wardley took really well. What an opening three rounds!

Dubois bounced back again, enjoying a strong fourth round, using his jab effectively and landing two big right hands that Wardley took impressively. Dynamite enjoyed another strong round in the fifth, appearing to gain more confidence using his ramrod jab and landing another big right hand. 

Round six was an absolute firefight, with Dubois using his jab and hurting Wardley, but the Ipswich man refused to retreat and traded with Dubois while on the ropes. What a round that was. Both men have shown huge courage! Dubois landed two big right hands in the seventh, and somehow Wardley remained on his feet, before firing back and landing some big shots of his own towards the end of the round.

At the end of the eighth, Wardley’s face didn’t look like it could take punishment anymore, but it still felt like he had a puncher’s chance. But at this point, it just felt like a matter of time before it was stopped. The ninth round saw Dubois continue to work off his ramrod jab, with Wardley somehow fighting on.

Wardley stumbled out of the corner at the start of the tenth, and still tried to fire back, but Dubois looked the fresher and landed some huge right hands. A strong start in the eleventh round saw Dubois land more big punches, finally leading to the referee stepping in and waving the fight off, with Dubois winning by TKO. Both men showed tremendous heart and courage, and Daniel Dubois is now a two-time heavyweight champion and the new WBO heavyweight champion of the world.

Jack Rafferty vs Ekow Essuman

Next up in the chief support to Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois was Jack Rafferty (27-0-1, 18 KOs) vs Ekow Essuman (22-3, 8 KOs) for the WBA gold welterweight championship.

Rafferty started the fight positively on the front foot. The speed of the Demolition Man appeared to trouble Essuman in the opening round. Rafferty continued to set the tempo in the second round, working well off his jab, and wasting very little. The accuracy of Rafferty caused a nasty-looking cut near the left eye of Essuman, making it difficult for him to see the right hand.

Rafferty’s variation with the straights and hooks helped him ensure he dominated the opening four rounds against the brave Essuman. The right hand of the Manchester fighter could not miss throughout the fight, but in the sixth round, it was landing with more regularity, and at the end of the round, Essuman’s corner decided to pull their man out. Jack Rafferty looks set to be a problem up at welterweight, winning by TKO.

Liam Cameron vs Bradley Rea

After a stunning upset between Chelli and Morrell, it was time for Liam Cameron (24-8-1, 10 KOs) vs Bradley Rea (22-2, 11 KOs) for the WBA intercontinental light heavyweight championship.

Rea settled quickly in the fight, showing impressive accuracy. Towards the end of the opening round, Rea appeared to have hurt Cameron before the bell sounded. A strong start from The Sting. Rea’s jab, speed and accuracy ensured he controlled the tempo in the second round, busting the nose of Cameron.

Cameron landed a nice body shot in the third, but his moments were too few and far between early on, with Rea landing the cleaner, eye-catching punches. In the fourth round, Rea landed a big left hook, knocking Cameron down. The Sheffield fighter made it to his feet, but Rea pounced and knocked Cameron down again, leading to the referee waving the fight off. Dominating and impressive from Bradley The Sting Rea, who is the new WBA intercontinental light heavyweight title holder, winning by TKO.

David Morrell vs Zak Chelli

Up next on the Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois undercard was the talented Cuban light heavyweight fighter, David Morrell (12-2, 9 KOs), taking on Londoner Zak Chelli (17-3-1, 9 KOs).

Despite Chelli having small moments of success in the opening round, it was a positive start from Morrell, who quickly established the distance and showcased his fast hands. Morrell continued to have the better of the exchanges through the next few rounds.

The fifth round saw Chelli land his best punches of the fight, leading to Morrell becoming more frustrated. Morrell was more active in the sixth, applying more pressure on his London opponent. Chelli showed further bravery in the seventh round, exchanging with Morrell and refusing to take a step back. Chelli increased the pressure in the eighth, with Morrell reluctant to throw the left hand.

In the ninth round, Chelli landed a right hand, forcing Morrell back onto the ropes before unloading and landing a series of heavy punches, and at one moment, it looked like the referee would wave the fight off. What a moment for the Brit. Chelli again rocked him in the final round and continued to walk the Cuban down, who was way in front. Chelli followed up and landed more hurtful shots with Morrell out cold on his feet, forcing the referee to jump in and wave the fight off. What a win, what a performance, and what a story, with Chelli winning by TKO.

Khaleel Majid vs Gavin Gwynne

Up next for the vacant WBA international super lightweight title was Khaleel Majid (16-1, 4 KOs) vs Gavin Gwynne (19-4-2, 5 KOs).

It was a bright opening round from Gwynne, who successfully applied plenty of pressure, throwing in hooks and uppercuts. Majid landed some nice shots, but he couldn’t keep Gwynne off him during the opening three minutes. Majid showed a willingness during the second round to stand and trade with Gwynne, who continued to maintain a high work rate.

During the fourth round, Majid showed his class, creating distance and putting his punches together impressively. The fifth round was toe-to-toe for the entire three minutes, with both landing body shots. The back-and-forth action continued, with Gwynne looking to apply the pressure, but the cleaner work continued to come from Majid.

It felt like Majid took the middle rounds, digging in and landing the cleaner punches. Gwynne came back in the eighth round, outworking Majid. The action-packed nature of the fight continued, with Gwynne showing a relentless attitude, while Majid had his moments until the final bell. What a fight this was. Credit to both fighters. It went to the judges’ scorecards, which read 95-95, while the other two had it 96-94 in favour of Gwynne, who is now the WBA international super lightweight title holder, winning by majority decision.

Bakhodir Jalolov vs Agron Smakici

The first fight on the Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois undercard saw Bakhodir Jalolov (17-0, 15 KOs) back in action against Agron Smakici (21-3, 19 KOs) in the heavyweight division.

It was a fairly quiet opening three minutes, with Jalolov beginning to find his groove as the rounds progressed, controlling the distance and tempo. The next few rounds were pedestrian at best, with Smakici landing the best punch of the fight in the third. The fifth round saw Jalolov find a more regular home for the left hand, while Smakici continued to have his own success.

The seventh round was by far the best of the fight to that point, with Jalolov finding a regular home for the left hand, which kept him in control despite the fast start to the round from the Croatian fighter. Before the eighth round, the corner of Smakici decided to withdraw their man from the fight. It was a ponderous fight, with Jalolov winning most of the rounds, without seriously hurting his Croatian opponent. Not a great fight, and a seemingly odd stoppage. Ultimately, Jalolov won by TKO.