Sports · Combat Sports · 1 hr ago
Dubois and Wardley meet again for WBO heavyweight title
Daniel Dubois defends his WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley on Saturday at London’s O2 Arena.
The British heavyweights are meeting again just five months after their first fight in Manchester.
Dubois came back from two knockdowns to stop Wardley in round 11 and win the title.
Wardley had been unbeaten as a professional, and says he wants to reverse that result.
The immediate rematch is a major risk for Wardley after the punishing first bout and a cut to his nose.
Dubois says he has improved and expects to win more decisively.
A win could move Dubois closer to a unification fight, while victory could put Wardley in line for major bouts; the rematch’s result will decide what comes next.
Daniel Dubois will defend his WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley in a rematch at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, 17 October.
Dubois stopped Wardley in the 11th round of their first fight in Manchester in May, after being knocked down twice.
Wardley’s defeat was the first of his professional career, and he has said he wants to reverse the result.
Dubois has said he is improved and expects to finish the rematch more quickly.
The fight is scheduled to headline an event with an undercard of other bouts.
- Who
- Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley, British heavyweight boxers.
- What
- They will meet in a rematch for Dubois’s WBO heavyweight title.
- When
- Saturday, 17 October 2026.
- Where
- The O2 Arena in London.
- Why
- Dubois is defending the title he won by stopping Wardley in their first fight; Wardley is seeking to reverse that defeat.
Daniel Dubois
Fabio Wardley
Rematch outlook
Daniel Dubois
Dubois said he is improved and expects to finish the fight more quickly.
Fabio Wardley
Wardley has insisted on an immediate rematch and says he can right the wrongs of the first fight.
Assessment of first fight
Daniel Dubois
Dubois said he has Wardley’s number and described his approach as more clinical.
Fabio Wardley
Wardley said the first fight caused no serious physical damage beyond a cut and suggested fatigue was the problem.
Dubois recovered from two early knockdowns and stopped Wardley in the 11th round in Manchester.
The fighters weighed in and held a final face-off ahead of the rematch.
Dubois is due to defend his WBO heavyweight title against Wardley at the O2 Arena in London.
- Title
- WBO heavyweight title
- Venue
- The O2 Arena, London
- First fight
- Dubois stopped Wardley in round 11
- Dubois weigh-in
- 253.9lb
- Wardley weigh-in
- 248lb
- Main card start
- 7pm BST
59 sources
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What people are saying
I can right those wrongs. Now is the fun bit.
the thought of [their first fight] is worse than the reality.
I’ll finish it quicker. I’m gonna school him again.