5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce - Wardley v Dubois: A Heavyweight Epic

Episode Date: May 10, 2026

Has there been a better heavyweight fight on British soil? Daniel Dubois is a two-time world champion after stopping Fabio Wardley in the 11th round of a brutal and unforgettable scrap in Manchester. Richie Woodhall joins Buncey to break down a fight that will live long in the memory. They hear from Dubois, his father Stan, trainer Don Charles and promoter Frank Warren.

This is Five Live Boxing. There were fights that take your breath away and there are fights that you remember for a very long time and then there are fights like this. Fabio Wardley, the defending WBOB heavyweight champion against Daniel Dubois, the former champion and the challenger. After 12 seconds, Dubois was on the floor and after 28 seconds of the 11th round,

Dubois was the winner. Fabio Wardley was rescued on his feet. It was one of the great. fight and it was a privilege to be there. I'm Steve Bunce and this is Five Live Boxing. It's not often when a big fight ends that I'm lost for words. It's not often when a big fight ends that I'm not quite sure what I've seen. Sure it's happened before. Don't get me wrong. But we witnessed something tonight from four or five feet away at ringside that was truly ridiculous and memorable. The fight parts of it felt like they were in slow motion.

In the end, the referee, Howard Foster, completely covered in blood, not just his shirt, his hair, his hands, his face, his brow, his cheeks, covered in Fabio Wardley's blood. In the end, at the 28 seconds of the 11th round, Howard Foster stopped in and brought to a close, one of the great fights we've seen, a fight of sacrifices, blood, guts, just the most ridiculous WBO.

heavyweight championship fight. The belt, I'm going to tell you now, it meant nothing. These two were fighting for something very different. Richie, we've had to take, Richie Woodleswood, we've had to take a few minutes to find somewhere to sit down, but just to collect our senses, because when we came in this room,

I said to you, was it the 10th, was it the 11th? Someone said I thought it was the 12th. Someone said they thought it was the 9th. It was that type of fight. I've had to really trall through my notes to try and make sense. of what we witnessed there tonight. Which, what's your first reaction

to Daniel Dubois regaining a version of the World Heavyweight title? Fabio Wardley losing for the first time. In front of 18,212 people close to midnight on Saturday in Manchester. Well, I think there's tough boxers in the game, Steve, and there's Fabio Wardley. And there's Daniel Dubois.

Because I think, obviously, Fabio showed tremendous courage and powers of recovery and how the man never went down from several of those shots. From about round four or five, let's get that right, yeah. I mean, listen, I literally lost sort of counter the big shots that he took and how he was affected by them. Because it seemed to be round after round when he could have gone from another clean punch. It was incredible.

And then on the flip side, He also dished it out a little bit as well. And Daniel was under the cost several times. So I won't hear anyone saying that Daniel DeBois hasn't got a chin because flipping, he took some really big shots. Well, that's been one of my themes all week when I've done Five Live this week is talking about this kind of misconception that Daniel doesn't like to fight. And there's been some people inside the boxing media suggesting that he's a coward.

Let's get that way. We'll address that a bit later on. That's insulting, isn't it, really? As I say, I'm not quite sure. where to start because the chaos from 20 minutes ago when this fight ended to the calm of where we are now is almost a bit too much.

We should have maybe stayed at ringside as they were dismantling the ring to stick with that energy. Richie, it was incredibly vicious, it was incredibly bloody. We've just walked past an alleyway and Michael Offo was there who is Fabio Wardley's manager and he didn't want to talk

and I wasn't even trying to get into the medical room where Fabio's having some stitches inserted. It looked like both of his eyes were as good as closed. The damage to his nose was clearly, it was clear and obvious. It was vicious. It was bloody. There's several, before we talk about the fight, before we talk about the details of the fight, Richie,

he was inspected at least three times by the doctors. Howard Foster went over to the corner about four or five times before the start of the 11th round. to ask if he was okay. Could it, should it have been stopped it? Should it, could it have been stopped? My gut instinct was, yes, it could have been and probably should have been stopped. However, you've got to remember that Howard Foster

was the referee that stopped the Carl Foch. And he's the closest one? George Rose contest. Yeah, he's the closest one. And you know what, Steve? I'd give Howard Foster a little bit of credit here in that he went to the doctor twice. and sort of put the decision to pull him out.

Yes, on them to pull him out. Plus he went over to the corner a couple of times. But having said all of that, I still think my gut feeling is it should have been stopped maybe a little bit earlier. But then people are going to say, well, at what stage? Because he's still on his feet.

And he's done it in the past twice when he's been massively behind. Yes, exactly. But he has been behind, massively behind. But not bashed up. But not bashed up like that, Steve. And we always said that, you know, with Fabio, I always thought that this fight, if it went late, it would favour Fabio Moore.

But at the same time, in the back of my mind, he was thinking, well, but he's got to avoid shots to do that, and he didn't avoid them. Throughout the contest, I think he got tired, not through his own work rate, but through the punishment that he actually took. It tired him out. Well, you were quite concerned after about seven or eight rounds,

whether Daniel would actually punch himself out. Punch himself out. There was a point, when he went for the end, inspection at the start of round of round 10, which is the second inspection as far as I can, as far as I can remember and take from my notes, he staggered so obviously and so really interested now. This is why I think he was only two inspections, because on the two, when he was being inspected by the two doctors at ringside, at the end, at the start of the night for the start of the 10th, the crowd went quiet. Yeah. They went quiet. And when he got on all clear, they

roared. They roared. They roared. They took the roof off. Because they were delighted they were going to get to see another three minutes or 30 seconds of what they paid to see and what they were privileged to witness. And they roared both times. Daniel won just about every round. Apart from the first and the third round, which is 10-8s. When he got dropped in the first round, 12 seconds into the fight, he was on the floor, got caught high on the temple, lost control of his legs, went down, eyes looked clear, but he did look stressed.

Yes, he did definitely. And then he went down again in a third. We got clumped again high on the head, stumbled back and went down, took a knee. I think he would have fallen over. I don't think he went back and took a knee. I think he would have fallen over had he continued. And then from that point up, that's when you hear that thing where you hear the rocky music in your head.

Because from the moment Daniel regained his feet in the third round until the moment the referee stepped in and after 28 seconds, of the 11th, it was one of the most physically draining and vicious and brutal fights I've ever witnessed from ringside. Yes, I agree with you. I remember AJ versus Klitsko back in about 2017. Not dissimilar for the pain and suffering. Yeah, it was a really, really, that was always sticks in my mind.

That was the best heavyweight title fight that I've been to up until now, because that surpassed it. That was an incredible world title fight between two guys. who gave absolutely everything. And I think both of them, you know, at the end of the day, skill went out the wind. It was just, it was just raw instincts.

Daniel did box, though. You know what, Steve? I think it was his level, it was this bit of grade from that amateur pedigreed. And he's experienced. You know what, Steve, he'll go into this World Title fight.

He'd had six World Title fights, I think, including the interims that he's had. And it showed in there because I thought he boxed really, well towards the end of the fight when you're expecting him to maybe press on and go for him. He was boxing smart. He box smart behind his job. He was thinking about what he was doing.

The instinct definitely came from Wardley. He was totally boxing on instinct from about round seven or eight. He was gone on his feet several times. It might have been a bit earlier than that. It might even been earlier than that. But fair play to Daniel, he boxed behind his job. He didn't rush thing. I was really impressed.

But I think, you know, he's took his licks in the past, Daniel, and he's come back. He's abuse in the past. Yes, you know, and he's come back, Steve. And the experience of those fights with your U-Six, you know, with your Joe Joyce's, he's been there, he's been to those dark times. He comes through and he boxed really, really well towards the end of the fight. I was really impressed. You know, we'll do one day, and we could do it soon. I think it would be a really brilliant pod.

We'll sit down and watch the thing, not with the fights, it's just you and I watch it again. because, you know, we're watching this life. We don't have the benefit of loads and loads of replays and the sit down overnight. And when it was over, it was just bedlam, absolute bedlam. But the Zones Adi Oladipo got up in the ring. Fabio Ward did didn't do any interviews in the ring. He left straight away to come and get medical assistance.

But he did catch up with Daniel Dubois at the conclusion of the most memorable fight that most people will ever get. the chance to watch life. We're in the ring. Daniel, wipe yourself down first. As you do, I just want to say, for me personally, that is the greatest heavyweight

title fire I've ever seen. Yeah. That was incredible, Daniel. Yeah, it was a war. We come through the sticky moments. It was a war. Thank you, Fabio, for that. Thank you.

You know, there's been so many questions about your heart, your resilience. You went down twice. I think that shuts up a lot of the naysairs about your heart. I know I've got half bundles of heart I'm a warrior in there what was going for you head when you went down in the very first round 10 seconds in it's on the top of the head you go down what are you thinking flush knock down you know I got to get

back up bounce it off and you come back harder man I'm a warrior that you are sir and you're also a heavyweight world champion again what does it feel like to have a nice shiny bout to go home with again great you know I thank Fabio for a great fight man I thank these team and you know we move on now but thank God it's all glory to God now for this victory so many good things you've done in the ring the best thing I think was your jab your jab everyone says your jab's like a right hand it has that much power on it was that the key to victory today landing that jab I had to pull out the bag and rely on it and use all my um my skills and yeah what a great fight what a great battle man but I'm number one again

That you are. We're going to get to what next in a second. Normally when you land those big right hands, fighters go down. Was you surprised that he was able to take those big right hands of yours? Yeah, he's a durable guy, you know? He's a durable fighter. A great warrior. I thank you for a great fight, man. It was an honor to be in the ring with him. So many what next options for you? You could do that again. I think everyone would want to see that again. The WBO manager is Moses Sitaama. Alexander Ussick said he'll fight the winner What do you want to do next Daniel The world is yours again now now you have this belt What is it you want next? I want to grow from this fight improve

And come back even better and go in the rain That champion again Daniel the last time we did that big interview against AJ You screamed into the mic Are you not entertained I feel like I need another Are you not entertained moment No definitely

Are you not entertained What a fuck I do a little bit of a breakdown even though it was just chaotic and it did go all over the place. One of the things, I'm not sure if you could see it from where you were, but Don Charles was having to

work furiously with Daniel at the end of the first, second and third. And Daniel's father, often called Dave, but real name Stan, he got to Daniel in the first round. He got up in the ring in the second round. We're on the canvas. And he was there the whole time.

And there were several times during the fight where there was a clinch where Daniel would look out and he would see both Don Charles and Stan, his father, who Daniel benefits, who have created and given him the chance, the opportunity and the belief in him. And he would take their advice.

Now that's a good sign. People might say that's rubbish. No, it's a good sign. No, it's an excellent sign. That means he's focused enough. Anyway, even when they actually naturally sort of broke away it from clinches and if the referee was to stop it for any sort of a few, seconds to speak to one of them.

You've seen Daniel look to his corner straight away. Just quickly. Always have a glance. That's a good thing, you know what I mean, he switched on. And it's not because he's run out of ideas. I think they've told him, look at us. And what they're saying is they're just pointing in their head, think, think. And the other thing they were telling him, slow down, slow down.

And just stay calm. They're simple instructions. Far more experienced Daniel Dubois, Steve, was there? You know, he talked to me, when I went to see him in the farm where he trains down there, Watford, but it is a farm, surrounding where horses. and manure. I went to see him with Don Charles. And one of the things he said is, this is the best,

it gets excited. This is the best Daniel Dubois. I've learned from all the hardship. I've learned from the victories. I've learned from the hardships. Anyway, I also sat down there with Don Charles. And Don Charles, when I spoke to him, it was about three weeks ago.

He just said, Steve, Daniel will be too smart on the night. Yeah. And he was also ferocious. But smart he was. Anyway, I caught up with, I did get up into the ring. and spoke to Don. Now warning for people who say this should be no love in boxing.

We'll have a listen to this because there is a little bit of love at the end of this interview. Donald Dubois, if anyone ever, will dare question him in front of me, I better not say the next thing because I'll be arrested.

So they can never question him again, ever. What he showed there, the right hand it took in the first few seconds. And he got up, regrouped and carried on and he went down again heavily. Was the second run or third round?

Third round. He went down heavy again. He had no right to get up. He got up, regrouped and fought on because he believed. And he boxed brilliantly, he boxed beautifully, boxed sensibly. It had to. We were falling into Fabio's strapped in the first. He had to adjust.

Fabio is a tremendous fighter, yeah, irrespective of how he's coming to boxing. The heart, the great. We knew all this. But wow. And there are people in the boxing business who get paid to be in the boxing business who have called him openly a coward for previous performances. That must make your blood boil. Well, of course it does, but it's almost like I'm glad.

I can say that now that we won. It's almost I'm glad the fight went the way it did. Those were questioning and doubting him, right? He gritted it. He went down, he got happy, didn't stay down. You know what? It's been a pleasure and a privilege to build up to this fight, and it's always a pleasure dealing with you.

Don, thank you. We go back a long way, Steve. Too long. A long way. I love you, Steve. I love you too, Don. So it's an open love affair between the two of us. You're a top man.

Thank you, man. Thank you. God bless you. So that's Don Charles telling me what it was like in the corner and telling me what he thinks about the people that have severely doubted Daniel. And how much he loved you. And finally how much he loved him. We go back a long while.

When Don was called Charles Eni, he lost to Harry Senior in the South East London Dives, a million trillion years ago. And it was back in the days when I was still covering amateur boxing. So I've known, you know, when Don says he's known me a long while,

we're not talking about we met in 2023, we have known each other a long while. I like it when trainers I like. I mean, I like Ben Davidson, don't get me wrong. But I like it when trainers I like are coming under fire and a massively under scrutiny. And he delivered tonight keeping Daniel on track, Don Charles, tonight. Yeah, I think the corner played a real big part, didn't they?

Because there was a couple of times in the contest, especially early on, where there was sort of a look of a bit of desperation and panic at those first couple of rounds. But he got through it, and once he got back to the corner, they got him back on track, and they got him back to doing what he should be doing. And you know what, Steve? I think a big part of the winter night

And we spoke about it earlier If he can get behind his jab Create that bit of space and gap There was time and again When Fabio Wardley went to throw a big shot right hand over the top And then just a straight jab was slammed into his face Just a basic shot And it was real

I mean it wasn't it wasn't spectacular But it's a sickening shot Because I know because I felt the power on the pads He can hit really hard of the jab And I think time and again that happened And it slowed and it knocked Literally knocked the stuffing out of Fabio Wardley Fabio was reckless tonight wasn't it

Yeah you know what Steve I'll tell you what Steve Even in the first round He got too successful too early And then he was looked too soon Yeah exactly Because he delivered that right hand over the top That dropped him in the first round

And then after that he was throwing him Every other shot Sometimes when he's looking for that big right hander He neglected his jab He neglected his jab. Ben Davidson said that to him after about six or seven rounds. I would like to count... I would like to count...

See, not Steve, I would like to count the amount of right hands that missed the target tonight. Wow. He launched from too far away. But I think, Steve, he was hoping that he would catch him with one because he caught him so early. And it was just... It was too much too soon, as you've said.

Yeah. I mean, so Fabio, who, you know, is in no fit state. You'll have... You know, he's going to have to have a very long break to let his body heal, to let his eyes heal, to let his head heal. You know, he's going to, he was changing shape in the ring.

You know, that's what Ronald McIntosh was saying. You know, he now doesn't look like Fabio Wardley. Steve, I'll say this, it got to a point in that fight. We love our boxing and we love fighting and we admire tough men and we like, we admire all the boxes. But that, it got to a point in that fight where it wasn't that enjoyable at the end. No, it wasn't. You know, and I'm a massive boxing fan. I've been a boxing myself.

You've done a bit, you know, but it wasn't that enjoyable. than I was thinking, when is this fight going to end? Because it was, you know what I mean, Steve? I've never felt like that before. I think there's a lot of people thinking that. Howard Foster did let it go until the 11th round. He went over to the corner fight. And I'm not really criticising those, Steve.

In a silly soul way. There's an awful lot of people who can stop the two doctors that came up into the ring twice or three times. They could have stopped the fight. He put it on there. Howard, Howard Foster went over to Fabio Wardley's corner. Yeah. Probably five times.

Okay. So they've got the option to stop it. And then, of course, he's got the option to stop it, Howard. But he does come back, Fabio. But the asterix attached to that, as you said at the top of the pod, is that in the past when he's come back, he's not been hit as often and hurt and damaged as much as he was by Daniel Dubois tonight. We mentioned there that before working in tandem with Don Charles was Stan.

That's his real name. Dave's his other name, the father of Daniel Dubois, who went over really quite early in the first round. Obviously, Daniel went over quite early and then Stan went to the corner quite early. I managed to fight my way with Scarfie. Alice Scarfie was with us through the cables and the debris at ringside and get over to see Stan.

He was sitting down. I wasn't sure why he was sitting down until I sat down on the ring steps. He was in the chair facing me. I think he might have been on the corner stall. He was absolutely exhausted. He was. Anyway, here I am talking to Daniel Dubois's father, Stan,

who's been given the credit in the pocket. past for salvaging lost causes. Here he is a very proud father sitting down fully and totally exhausted. No, that was unbelievable. He showed a lot of art and grit. I think he was over-nervous because he got stopped in the last fight and it was playing on his mind. But once he relaxed a bit, he was all right.

And you had to get up, I saw you get up, you came in the first round, you were up in the corner in the second. What were you saying to it? I was just telling him to hold himself together, you know. He can do this. Just hold yourself together and try to not bend down so much. Yeah, well, he did it. It is unfair the criticism he gets, isn't it?

I mean, you're his father. I'm a father. We're fathers. I think it's that they don't like me. And if you don't like the father, you don't like the son. But that was an incredible performance. You spoke to him at the end. What did he say to you?

Sorry? You grabbed him at the end, what did he say to you? What did you say to him at the very end of the fight? I just said, well done, you've done it. You've done it. You're exhausted, aren't he, Dan? You're exhausted, aren't you? I'm totally exhausted.

Can tell. If I put a blanket out of you, you'd fall asleep. I'd fall asleep straight away. So that was stand there, and you could just sense and hear and feel the pride in his voice, which he must be really draining if you're the father of someone who, who's getting universally criticized. Yeah. That must be, I mean, you know how sensitive we are about our own kids.

Yeah, of course. You know, if someone says something, you know, even if it's nothing, it weighs on your mind, doesn't it? Yes. But to read publicly and to hear publicly that your son's meant to have swallowed it in this fight and, you know, hasn't got the heart and the guts for it. That's a little bit tough, Rich. It's a little bit tough and it's a little bit insulted, isn't it, at the end of the day?

And, well, I'll tell you what, Steve, what Daniel has done, tonight is put all that to bed mate that's what that's what done that was the point that don't know that was the point of don't eloquently and forcefully put all that to bed don't I don't want to hear anyone question Daniel de bar bottle again because the kid's got heart he's got a bottle

and I think that like I say that's through experience and you know when you go back to those defeats I mean against Joe Joyce remember you had a broken eye socket and he was in front he was in front on a scorecard you know what I mean so yes but yeah I should imagine listening to that

criticism. But at the same time, Steve, it must be so satisfying as a father as well to silence all those doubters, to silence all those critics with that type of performance. His son has just been involved in one of the most exciting heavyweight title fights that we've witnessed in a British ring. And let's just say this for the people that are maybe not big boxing fans, but often get a bit critical. We're not saying that the two heavyweights are the two greatest heavyweights to ever be in a great fight. No, not at all. We're not. We're not. saying that. We're just saying that they both got their merits.

Fabio has got a version of the world title and that's normal to say someone's got a version of the world title. We've been saying that since the late 60s when Harvey was stripped of his title. And Steve, Frank Warren says it was the best heavyweight title fight that he's put on. I mean, look what Frank

has done over the years. Exactly. In fact, that's a perfect seg because I did catch up with Frank Warren at ringside and I thought Stan was exhausted and I thought I was exhausted. I thought our entire BBC 5 Live team was exhausted. Well, Frank Warren was also tired, but you know what? There was just, there was a look of sort of shock and amazement and awe and respect in his face.

And also, if you listen, you'll hear it in his words. Frank, I'm not quite sure we're at a start, to be perfectly honest of you. Why don't you start with you witness something special tonight, ultra special. Two men bearing their hearts and souls in the ring gave everything. Didn't leave one bit outside the ring. It was just the most amazing fight, most amazing heavyweight fight I've ever put on it. I don't know, the shots they took,

on the monitor in between rounds, they were getting hit with bombs that would take people out, and they stood it, and I'd never ever want to hear anything about Daniel Dubois. Yeah, that's what Don Charles has just said. I hit on the top of the head, you know, and that's what happened with him against Kevin Lorain.

Absolutely. same thing. And he came, he got up and grit his teeth and come back into it. And it was, you know, he just had to show what he was about. As did Fabio. You know, Fabio's an most amazing, amazing man. As it was going on

around Frank, seven and eight and nine, and just that intensity, the degree of suffering and sacrifice, it was, it just went to a different level. It went somewhere where we've never been. No. And these fights like their

are thankfully, you know, as a punter you see him but you don't really want fights as in fights like that. I mean, these are,

these are going right into their soul. They're bearing their soul. Everything, gave everything. You know, the determination, the will to win,

you know, neither of them taking a backward step. It was amazing. And it seems really petty to ask, but what now for the pair of them? Did I hear you mention a rematch? There's a rematch clause in the contract, so we'll see what happens.

So we've got to address the first thing straight away, Rich. A rematch. It's going to be a long time coming, but a rematch. It will be a long time coming. But you know what, Steve, what's in the back of my mind now is, you know, Fabio Wardley, they both might not ever be the same boxers again. In a fight like that, you leave loads behind, Rich. Exactly.

There's only certain, there's only so many fights in a fighter's career like that. Maybe one or two, you know, because like I say, would we like to see it again? I think the boxing public would. Would I like to see it again? I'm not so sure. That was a really brutal fight. And both boxes may never fully be the same again. We'll have to wait and see.

But it was a cracker. And will it sell again? Of course it would. Of course it would. As I said about the crowd going quiet during the inspection. And you know what? Fabio. And then rejoicing when they were allowed.

And you know what? Fabio. When he recovers, he might just look back and think, you know what, I add him. Next time, I will finish him off. I had him twice. And in all fairness, in all fairness, if you're trying to build up the Fabio case for a rematch,

he didn't put his foot on the pedal when he had him twice. It was almost like, I've got him, I've got him hurt, I'm not going to take any risks. I know he's a banger, and I'll still get him a bit later on. And I'll still get him a bit later. Which he did try to do, as you say, you'd like to know the amount of times he missed with, the amount of times he missed with punches.

You know what, see if I like to count. the amount of jabs that he took, flush, clean as he's trying to land that right hand over. I know it'll be more than the amount of jabs he threw because that is, you can count that on one hand. Tremendous basic boxing behind your lead hand from Daniel Dubois. So to pick up on something else that was more about the way Warren was talking rather than what he actually said,

that sense that we've written this something. What did he say? They've given us their heart and soul. Yeah. I mean, it was poetry. I mean, it was, you know, it wasn't poetry in the ring. It was just pure brutality. He was as much complimentary to Fabio Wardley as he was Daniel DuBarre.

Yeah, as was Don't Charles, don't forget. Absolutely. Total respect. In fact, Daniel in the ring, we've had the Ola Deepa, I'm not sure, you know, right at the very start. He said then, Fabio, thank you, man, thank you. So he was thanking Fabio as well. Great respect, yeah, for both of you. He walked past me coming out of the ring, Fab, and he...

Did he say anything to his, Steve? No, I held his hand, he was coming down, he was concentrating elsewhere, but he was quite badly damaged. facially. And I think this is a fight that for people that aren't necessarily boxing fans, they could see pictures of this tomorrow, they could hear about it, they could read about it. And whether we like it

or not, and I try and keep our coverage light and tell people, listen, we're in this golden period where we've got 1200 boxes and we're having stadium fights after stadium fight after stadium fight. But when you see a fight like that, you just have to just acknowledge that this is a very dangerous and

brutal sport that we're in. It's a bloody sport. It's a savage sport. And that's why the people come through the door, 90,000 at Wembley to watch Anthony Joshua. We've seen 20,000. We've seen two modern-day gladiators there today. Absolutely, we have, yeah.

And let's get this right. We make no apologies or excuses for what you've seen. So if you're used to, maybe, I don't know, if you really enjoyed Ben Whittaker the other week, and if you really enjoyed, you know, Tyson Fury beating Arslanbeck-McMoodov, if you really enjoyed that, this is also part of our business

and we make absolutely no apologies. It is brutal, it is bloody, it is rugged and sometimes it can be, as Ritchie's admitted there, an Olympic bronze medalist, a European and Commonwealth champion and a world champion. Even he's admitted there. Sometimes it's hard to watch.

It was at the end there, I must admit. Where'd you go after a fight like that? I mean, obviously you get delivered the best, in the land by chum. Your pal, who's now my pal, my best pal. We just keep my own scarfy at the back of the room there. I think she's seen the samosa bag.

I've seen her fiddling around with it. I don't want that. I don't want to lose any samoses. We enjoy our samoses on the way home, Steve. We enjoy our samoses on the way home. But there might be a bit of silence tonight as we drive home. Yeah, exactly. Because after that...

We're absorbing it ourselves what we've witnessed because you know what, Steve, we might not ever witness a fight of that brutality again. That level of sacrifice. You know what I mean? It was absolutely brutal. And, you know, we enjoy our boxing. But just got to a stage where I thought, oh, I think I'd like to see this finish now.

See, I've had two weekends of this. I had this last week in Wolverhampton at a Civic Hall with Connor Walker, retiring Sam Eampton. I mean, it was the same thing. That was the same type of fight. This was the only one I can think of lots of fights that are brilliant and great and better fights than this. different ways, different ways,

you know, because they may be meant more. But one that took place up in here in Manchester many, many years ago was the rematch between Chris Eubank and Carl Thompson when Chris jumped from Super.

Now that was, I just remember that. That was a brutal fight. I've always used that as my measure of brutality. Well, tonight, that got nudged off a number one spot. That's now in number two spot. Richard, it's been a pleasure all week.

We've had a really good time. We've floated around. we've done all sorts of stuff and at the end of the day we sat down for something that we knew would be good I don't even think any of us realised it would be that good

it's been an absolute delight and a pleasure of which. I even got asked about West Brum on Radio 5 live on the Friday show do you remember that? It cost me a lot I had to beg

I had to beg Darren Fletcher I said look Fletch Richie's coming on the show tonight you've got to mention Westport he said no chance we got Arsenal we got West Ham we got City

we got fall out of Real Madrid I said listen Fletch I had to pull in Fletcher I said listen Fletch I know your pals were Noel Gallagher and you've got your highfaluting friends but I'm telling you now the only reason Rich is coming on the show

is because I've told him that you'll give him two minutes on the baggies and you've nicked about five minutes on the baggies. James Morrison. Oh, easy bitch. You're not getting it twice for the weekend. It's been a special week in Manchester that started off with the boys going on double-decker buses

then they pitched the ring in a playground in a in fact in a sand pier. Then it was the head-to-head press commas and he could just sense the intensity. There was no need for hype. There was no need for any kind of stunts. You could feel it. The way in, there was something steely about their look.

And then the way they came to the ring tonight, Fabio looked absolutely like a demon. And Dubois, and I said it, I'm not being half-time, I said, he looked calm. He looks dangerously calm. And then the first bell sounded, and then it was 28 seconds into the 11th round and one of the all-time great epic,

brutal, savage and unforgettable fight. had taken place. Richie Woodall was next to me. It was a privilege not to be next to me, but to be anywhere near that ring tonight. Richie, it's been great this week. Thank you very much. And this week, you have downloaded pods,

you have listened to the stuff we've done, you've caught our appearances, and I hope if you can listen back to the fight you do because it was truly memorable. I've been Steve Bunce, and this has been a truly incredible week on Five Live. Thank you.

Welcome to the Wayne Rooney show Wayne Rooney, Kay Kerr and me Kelly Somers break down the biggest stories in the Premier League and beyond He's gone in quite quick but he hasn't caught him high I just don't think it's the red card Plus we'll hear the funniest and most outrageous stories From Wayne's career I was going into positions and doing things

I shouldn't have really been doing But you do it because you feel like you have to And I helped us drive on and win the FA Club The Wayne Rooney show Watch an eye player, listen on Towns Thank you.