Dubois and Wardley Set for O2 Rematch After Brutal First Battle
Daniel Dubois will defend his WBO heavyweight world title against Fabio Wardley in a rematch on 17 October at London's O2 Arena, with both men promising another war.
The announcement came during Saturday's undercard of Moses Itauma's IBF heavyweight world title fight with Filip Hrgovic, with Dubois and Wardley facing off in the ring to make it official BBC Sport.
Their first meeting, on 9 May at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena, was anything but straightforward. Wardley dropped Dubois twice in the early rounds, looking capable of an upset. But Dubois weathered the storm, and a bloodied Wardley absorbed heavy punishment until the referee stepped in to stop the fight in the 11th round BBC Sport.
That stoppage made Dubois, 28, a two-time world champion — the WBO belt is one of the four major sanctioning body titles in heavyweight boxing. For Wardley, it was the first defeat of his professional career, coming in his 22nd bout BBC Sport.
Wardley, 31, wasted little time triggering the rematch clause that promoter Frank Warren had built into the original fight contract. Reuters reported on 15 May that the Ipswich fighter had formally exercised his right to a second crack at the title he had just lost Reuters. Both men are British, adding a genuine domestic rivalry edge to a world-level contest.
The return is billed as "Don't Blink" on Queensberry Promotions' official site, and the name fits. The first fight had knockdowns, cuts, momentum swings and a late finish — everything a heavyweight crowd could ask for Queensberry Promotions.
Dubois, for his part, is forecasting a more commanding performance this time. "Let's get it on. It's just a war," he said, predicting a "dominant victory" BBC Sport.
Wardley, though, will walk into the O2 with genuine comfort. He has called the venue "like a home away from home" BBC Sport. The arena has staged some of the biggest nights in British boxing over the past decade, and a loud, partisan crowd should be in full voice.
The first fight was streamed on DAZN, and expectations for the rematch will be considerably higher given what the public has already seen these two produce Bad Left Hook.
For fans, this is the rare rematch where the first instalment genuinely delivered. Dubois proved he can survive adversity and find a finish. Wardley proved he can hurt the champion. The question on 17 October is which version of that equation holds over twelve rounds — or fewer.
