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Daniel Dubois hit the canvas barely 10 seconds after the bell rang in Manchester - and dropped again in the third round - grabbing the full focus of everyone at Co-op Live Arena.

For a long time, Dubois has borne the reputation of a boxer who crumbles under pressure. Rivals and supporters have long debated his courage, mindset, and durability.

In the buildup to the fight, Fabio Wardley quipped that without boxing, Dubois might end up as a "bin man".

Come the close of Saturday evening, however, Dubois delivered the most decisive turnaround of his career. He surged back to halt Wardley in the 11th round of an epic British heavyweight showdown, securing his second world title.

The standout instance unfolded right after those knockdowns.

Following the initial drop, Dubois glanced at his corner and flashed a quick wink to signal all was well - no signs of distress or breakdown. The tactical knee he later took in the third seemed deliberate, not frantic.

A large portion of the 18,000 fans had arrived hoping for Wardley's storybook run to persist, yet Dubois tuned out the clamor and kept his cool.

The victory yet again muted those who have long analyzed Dubois's character as intently as his ring skills.

"Nobody on earth can doubt this young man now - especially not to my face," his trainer Don Charles declared post-fight.

"This evening he wiped away every bit of that harmful chatter. I'm thankful it unfolded like this, letting him show the quitting story is pure fiction."

Heavyweight contenders face an especially intense glare, and Dubois has endured more than his portion of examination. Losses to Joe Joyce and twice to Oleksandr Usyk heavily influenced how the public views him, alongside ongoing concerns over his focus.

Such uncertainties now seem thoroughly antiquated. At age 28, Dubois holds two heavyweight world titles - at a younger age than Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury managed it.

The differences between the fighters were glaring all week.

Wardley exuded the poise of someone made for the spotlight. Eloquent, humorous, and at ease, the Ipswich native wandered Manchester's streets casually. Dubois, by contrast, exited two press sessions.

In one, he tensed up at mention of the Joyce loss. In the other, he seemed annoyed by rapid-fire queries he viewed as taunting.

This prompts a larger debate on inconsistencies; would Joshua or Fury face such backlash for skipping promotional duties?

Dubois's terse or hesitant replies often draw online mockery. Yet boxing is essentially his entire world.

Home-schooled from the start, the heavyweight has rarely seemed at ease before lenses. He lacks showmanship flair and shuns staged drama.

Strikingly, right after his career's pinnacle victory, Dubois seemed reborn.

During the ring interview, he expressed himself steadily, articulately, and with real sincerity. He honored Wardley and acknowledged the battering he endured.

The wary, awkward demeanor from earlier vanished - Dubois radiated self-assurance.

Selecting Wardley sent a bold message. Post his second Usyk setback, Dubois could have picked an easy tune-up to regain momentum.

The bold choice succeeded spectacularly, though the saga might continue. A rematch option is in place, and with the fight's ebb and flow over 11 rounds, both could pursue it.

Dismissing Wardley prematurely would be unwise for a sequel; his raw tenacity - keeping upright despite a mangled nose and swollen-shut eye - should win him fresh admirers.

That said, the heavyweight scene shifts now, placing Dubois squarely in the mix. Another Usyk clash seems improbable soon; the Ukrainian holds stylistic edges, and appetite for a third bout in a 2-0 series is low.

Still, circumstances evolve. Usyk faces newcomer Rico Verhoeven soon and hints at few bouts left. Dubois might wisely bide time over rushing a trilogy.

Regardless of next foes, Dubois has banished past demons and affirmed his mental strength.

Yet what is his limit? Matching Joshua and Fury's benchmarks while prime, he has roughly eight years to surpass them.

Judging by his path thus far, expect an exhilarating journey.