Dubois Destroys Wardley and Sets the Stage for a Heavyweight Unification Fight

Many people, myself included, were expecting another epic contest like the one in May. After 15 seconds, it became clear that we were witnessing a short beatdown of a hopelessly outclassed opponent.

Dubois had repeatedly said that Wardley would be "easy work" this time around. Many dismissed that as bravado, but it turned out to be the confident statement of a man who had acquired a clear understanding of his opponent's limitations.

Wardley said he'd go away and learn from the mistakes he'd made in their first match, but he did no such thing. Once again, he was bowling over crude right hands that Dubois had learned to easily duck beneath. Fabio didn't land a single punch of note. 

Those who said that Wardley had made a grave error by insisting on an immediate rematch were proved right. He did not seem solid, either mentally or physically. He was a sitting duck for Dubois, who teed off on him almost at will from the opening bell.

Wardley is known for having an iron jaw, but just a few seconds into the match, he walked onto a massive right hand that sent him slumping into the ropes. The referee administered the first count of Fabio's career. His legs looked wobbly afterwards, and he never really recovered from that punch.

Dubois steamed forward in the second round, and before long, Wardley found himself defenceless on the ropes, his head rocking from accurate hooks and uppercuts. His trainer, Ben Davison was not going to make the mistake he made in the first fight by letting Fabio take unnecessary punishment, and mercifully threw in the towel.

Wardley's lack of defence has seen him take far too many punches in his last few fights. He would do well to get out of the sport now, while his faculties are still intact. He has a young daughter, and another on the way. They need a healthy father to play with.

As for Daniel, the best it seems is yet to come. Who could have imagined that just over a year after he was totally outboxed and knocked out by Oleksandr Usyk, that he would be a dominant WBO champion who's favoured by many to unify the heavyweight titles.

After Dubois' victory, the IBF heavyweight champion, Filip Hrgovic climbed into the ring to issue his challenge. That should be an easy fight to make, since both fighters are promoted by Frank Warren.

One obstacle though is the Cuban Southpaw, Frank Sanchez, who's been the IBF's mandatory challenger for some time now. He wants his shot next, but unfortunately for him, the big-money fight is Dubois-Hrgovic. It's almost certain that we'll see that one next.