Wardley-Dubois rematch set for 17 October in London
Daniel Dubois will defend his WBO heavyweight world title against Fabio Wardley in a rematch on 17 October at London's O2 Arena, following their dramatic first meeting in Manchester in May. Dubois, from London, won that encounter with an 11th-round stoppage despite being knocked down twice early on, taking the title from Wardley and becoming a two-time world champion. The rematch was confirmed during the undercard of Moses Itauma's IBF title fight against Filip Hrgovic, with both fighters facing off in the ring afterwards.
Dubois, 28, has a record of 23 wins (22 by knockout) against three defeats, while Ipswich's Wardley, 31, has 20 wins, one loss and one draw, having only taken up boxing at 19. Both men predicted victory, with Wardley calling it "revenge" and Dubois promising a "dominant victory". The winner could face Itauma at Wembley next summer if the unbeaten prospect secures a world title of his own, though the heavyweight division remains split, with Murat Gassiev holding the WBA belt and Agit Kabayel the WBC title after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his titles.
- Dubois defends WBO title against Wardley on 17 October at the O2
- Dubois won their first fight in May via 11th-round stoppage
- Winner could face unbeaten Moses Itauma at Wembley next summer
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Boxing fans will recognise Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley as two of Britain's leading heavyweights, whose first fight in Manchester this May ended dramatically when Dubois came off the canvas twice to stop Wardley in the 11th round, taking his WBO world title in the process. That result made Dubois a two-time world champion, while Wardley, a former unbeaten prospect from Ipswich who only began boxing at 19, is now seeking to win the belt back.
The rematch was announced in the ring after Moses Itauma, another highly rated British heavyweight, defended his IBF title against Filip Hrgovic, underlining how closely these fighters' careers are linked. Itauma is seen as a potential future opponent for the Dubois-Wardley winner, possibly at Wembley next year, should he add a world title of his own.
The wider context is a heavyweight division that is currently split between several champions, after Oleksandr Usyk gave up his titles: Murat Gassiev holds the WBA belt and Agit Kabayel the WBC title, alongside Dubois's WBO title and Itauma's IBF title. This means no single boxer currently holds undisputed status, which adds significance to how the winner of Wardley-Dubois might position themselves for future unification fights.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A rematch is compelling because Wardley’s two early knockdowns showed he can seriously trouble Dubois, while Dubois’s late stoppage showed his resilience and ability to adapt. A second fight lets both settle what the first revealed and offers fans a high-stakes contest between two proven heavyweights.
The case against
The first fight ended decisively, with Dubois stopping Wardley in the 11th round, so a rematch may be seen as less necessary than fresh title defences against other contenders. With the heavyweight titles split among several champions and a possible future fight with Itauma in view, prioritising this repeat bout could delay match-ups that clarify the division.