Defending as champ…
Fabio Wardley doesn’t deal in half measures in his compelling story to date.
In current days, his first title defence as WBO Champion has been introduced towards Daniel Dubois for 9th Might. Dubois, himself, is a former IBF World-title holder.
Wardley grew to become the WBO Champion in barely low-key circumstances in November, after Oleksandr Usyk vacated that belt. However that’s the solely anti-climactic second within the Suffolk heavyweight’s fascinating profession to date.
Challenger Dubois misplaced to Usyk in his final bout as he tried to unify the division, however earlier than that, he brutally knocked out Anthony Joshua in September 2024. Wardley’s alternative of opponent shouldn’t be one to ‘ease him into’ his world title defences – however then once more, when has he ever taken the simple route?
Wardley vs Dubois is scheduled for the Co-op Stay Enviornment in Manchester and is billed as ‘Don’t Blink’ – with each fighters boasting a 95% knock-out document with their wins. The consensus is that somebody goes to be stopped – and that has but to occur to the undefeated Wardley.
Final outing for FABIO…
Fabio Wardley’s final ‘in-ring’ motion was on Saturday, 25th October towards the in-form Joseph Parker – arguably a struggle that the New-Zealander didn’t even must take, with him already being the necessary challenger to Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed throne. So truthful play to Parker for taking this problem slightly than ready for Usyk to recuperate from a again damage.
And on that great night time, Wardley did what he’s been doing his entire profession by upsetting the chances. Regardless of being the underdog and down on the playing cards, he dramatically stopped Parker within the 11th spherical. The Ipswich-fighter would later admit that he hadn’t been damage on this struggle and at all times felt assured of a victory that clinched him the ‘Interim’ WBO title.
The match itself felt deserving of being for the precise WBO title, however this hadn’t but been vacated by the all-conquering Usyk. The excellent scenes, because the referee waved it off, noticed Wardley drop to his knees in disbelief. For my part, this profitable second – and the best way he did it – is up there with one of many best sporting moments that I’ve ever witnessed reside. The ambiance was buzzing – with each shock and admiration.
And though his “Usyk… Usyk…” callout on this victorious night time on the 02 appeared formidable, each time he’s stepped up a stage, he’s confirmed that he actually belongs there.
Wardley wouldn’t be introduced because the official WBO champion till November – and this was with out having to elevate a glove as Usyk stepped apart. A disgrace in some methods.
Harshly, if issues don’t go his method towards Dubois, Wardley might lose his title earlier than he’s even had an opportunity to get used to it. However that’s boxing, and the mark of a person who is not going to shrink back from a probably harmful struggle. Actually, he relishes them. He’s at all times completed it in another way.
The Rise and Rise of Wardley…
Fabio Wardley’s rise from a ‘white-collar’ boxer with no beginner expertise is definitely some of the unorthodox strategies of success ever. He didn’t begin boxing till the age of 20 – simply ELEVEN years in the past.
His first skilled struggle was in April 2017 as he beat Jakub Wojiciki on factors in a 4-rounder. What adopted subsequent was SIXTEEN straight victories – all by KO – as he constructed his popularity as a devastatingly hard-hitter.
In March 2024, the primary main impediment was negotiated as he served up a brutal encounter towards fellow British prospect Frazer Clarke. This match led to a ‘split-decision draw’ with Wardley a bloody mess after going the total distance of 12 rounds for the primary time ever in his profession. The character of this struggle – and the injury he obtained – had many pundits favouring Clarke for the rematch later in the identical yr.
How flawed they have been. Wardley was again in his ‘knock-out territory’ as he stopped Clarke within the very first spherical of the October 2024 rematch. Wardley’s proper hook broke Clarke’s jaw and led to some worrying scenes within the ring. Clarke was a damaged man.
Justis Huni can be subsequent. The unbeaten Australian got here in as a late substitute for the controversial Jarrell Miller, who sustained a shoulder damage throughout coaching.
Ipswich Homecoming…
Fabio Wardley fought at his beloved Ipswich City FC as he delivered a surprising one-punch knockout to defeat Justis Huni and declare the ‘Interim’ WBA heavyweight title in June 2025.
A summer season of magic. However 20,000 followers very almost noticed his large night time out, at Portman Street, fall flat on its face. He was effectively behind Huni on the scorecards earlier than the tenth spherical stoppage.
Perhaps Wardley did really feel the strain of his hometown crowd on the largest stage of all of them – or perhaps it was simply the Fabio recreation plan all alongside. All coronary heart and a granite chin – absorbing the punishment earlier than ending the competition in probably the most spectacular of how. In any case, he was shedding convincingly till the showstopping second courtesy of his barbaric proper hand.
A tense stadium of followers breathed an enormous sigh of reduction and have been quickly ‘singing the Blues’ as their man defied the chances as soon as extra – this time to show the match on its head. Though Wardley was the heavy favorite to win on the night time, he was being completely outclassed by the sharper Huni. However then got here his trademark knock-out.
Frank Warren known as it his “Deontay Wilder” second – and Wardley himself said that “I understand how to win fights”, which can’t be argued with both right here or once more in his newest struggle with Parker.
Paradoxically, regardless of taking ample punishment in a number of fights, the one time Wardley has hit the bottom was following a press-conference brawl in 2023. The East-Anglian boxer was reduce and ‘dropped’ by a member of his then-upcoming opponent, David Adeleye’s crew.
He due to this fact maintains his spectacular document of by no means having been knocked down contained in the ring. That’s the place he comes alive.
A humble man…
A lot has been fabricated from Wardley’s ‘white-collar’ background – and the truth that he could also be ‘making up for misplaced time’ after not getting within the ring till 20-years-of-age. He’s humble and is aware of the place he got here from – demonstrated by retaining his identical backroom crew in place for all his fights to date.
He has no ‘so-called beginner pedigree’, however the coronary heart and resilience that runs by him has already carried him all the best way to the very prime. It stays to be seen if he can tackle the perfect of a technology in Oleksandr Usyk – however to date, he thrives when he’s least anticipated to win. Each time he has been instructed that the following stage is above him, he has risen to the problem. Each second of hardship inside these fights has additional fuelled his need to recover from the road.
Fabio Wardley isn’t any strange champion, primarily as a result of he’s such an strange bloke…
It’s well-known that he’s an avid Ipswich City FC supporter – and this was demonstrated to the utmost when he was noticed on a practice to Norwich Metropolis forward of the East Anglian derby in April 2024. This was simply over per week after his 12-round epic with Frazer Clarke that led to a ‘split-decision draw’. On the time, he was the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion and made certain he was in full voice with the travelling ‘Blue Military’ regardless of nonetheless sporting a number of ‘conflict wounds’ from the current conflict.
As well as, he’s now the primary sponsor of beginner grassroots soccer aspect Ransomes Sports activities FC in Ipswich – placing his affect again into the very group that he got here from. An actual coup for the native aspect, lots of whom know the World Heavyweight Champion personally.
And most lately, he loved an evening out amongst native festive revellers in his hometown of Ipswich on Christmas Eve. The group nonetheless sees him as certainly one of their very own.
the story continues…
It may very well be argued that the ‘Wardley story’ already has its fairytale ending with him turning into the WBO World Champion – however his Usyk ‘call-out’ suggests he isn’t completed but.
And if not Usyk, how in regards to the returning Tyson Fury? Fury, himself, has mooted Wardley as a possible future opponent as he plots a path to turning into a three-time World Heavyweight Champion. By no means wanting a phrase or two, the Gypsy King even known as Wardley a “harmful puncher” within the aftermath of his Joseph Parker victory.
The formidable Dubois clearly stands in his method subsequent, however victory right here would certainly present but extra mammoth alternatives for Fabio Wardley.
Do you agree?
