Fabio Wardley assured his mother, Shonni-leigh, from the ringside that he was fine following a tough loss to Daniel Dubois. Referee Howard Foster halted the match 28 seconds into the 11th round as Wardley couldn’t continue defending himself.
Though Wardley, aged 31, was on his feet, he wasn’t knocked down by Dubois in the intense fight. Nevertheless, his right eye was swollen shut, impairing his vision, and his nose was bleeding heavily, affecting his breathing.
After the fight was stopped, Wardley collapsed to the mat due to exhaustion and relief that the ordeal was over. Upon rising, the former champion sought out his mother, Shonni-leigh, near the ring, reassuring her of his well-being before taking a seat in his corner.
Medical professionals from the British Boxing Board of Control examined Wardley’s injuries multiple times during the bout but allowed the fight to continue each time. It was widely acknowledged that Wardley struggled in the later rounds after a strong start where he knocked down Dubois twice in the initial three rounds, securing two 10-8 rounds.
Despite his early success, Wardley seemed behind on the scorecards later in the match, leading to calls from spectators for an earlier stoppage. Some viewers labeled the fight as uncomfortable and brutal, criticizing the delayed referee intervention and the overall unpleasantness of the contest.
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Wardley’s mother, a dedicated supporter, has always been present at his fights, displaying unwavering support. In a previous interview with DAZN, Wardley mentioned his mother’s vocal and enthusiastic presence at his matches, highlighting her as his biggest fan and supporter in the crowd.