Everything to Know About Dubois vs Wardley II Heavyweight Rematch

On Saturday, Daniel Dubois will put his WBO heavyweight championship on the line against Fabio Wardley in a rematch at London's O2 Arena. Their first fight in Manchester just five months ago was one of the year's most thrilling bouts.

At 29, Dubois endured two knockdowns before rallying to stop Wardley in the 11th round, becoming a two-time world champion. Wardley, 31, from Ipswich, suffered the first loss of his career but quickly exercised his rematch option.

The question remains: can Dubois replicate his earlier victory, or will Wardley complete the comeback after pushing Dubois so hard last time?

How to Follow the Fight on BBC

• Live text updates: Start at 21:00 BST on Saturday, 17 October via the BBC Sport website and app.
• Radio commentary: From London on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds at 21:00, with main event coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live at 22:00.
• Presenters and commentators: Stacey Copeland hosts alongside lead commentator Ronald McIntosh; co-commentary by Steve Bunce and ex-super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall.
• Watch-along: Available on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website/app, YouTube, and TikTok starting just before the main event.
• Live reaction and analysis: Provided by Nick Peet, British heavyweight champ Richard Riakporhe, and BBC Sounds Punch Perfect hosts Emily Smith and Liam Gough.

Ringwalk Timing

The exact time for ringwalks isn’t confirmed but both fighters are expected to enter the ring after 22:30 BST. Timings may vary.

Undercard and Running Order

• Main card:
• Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley - WBO heavyweight title
• Louie O Doherty vs Michael Gomez Jr - British and Commonwealth lightweight title
• Bakhodir Jalolov vs Solomon Dacres - heavyweight
• Tony Curtis vs Kerim Agius - super-flyweight
• Leighton Birchall vs Luis Vara Carrillo - featherweight
• Fawas Aborode vs Rashid Omar - lightweight
• Manny Safari vs Jake Pollard - featherweight
• Adam Olaniyan vs TBA - heavyweight
• Aaron Noriega vs TBA - super-featherweight
• Zayn Ahmed vs Kasey Bradnum - super-featherweight
• Issiah Hamilton-Allen vs Jensen Irving - middleweight

Fight Week Schedule (BST)

• Wednesday: Open workouts at 17:00
• Thursday: News conference at 12:30
• Friday: Weigh-in at 18:00

Comparing Dubois and Wardley’s Records

The two fighters are close in size and power. Dubois has 23 wins in 26 fights, 22 by knockout. Wardley holds 20 wins, one loss, one draw, with 19 knockouts. Together, they've won 41 out of 43 fights inside the distance.

Dubois’s edge lies in experience against top opponents, having faced Oleksandr Usyk twice, along with Anthony Joshua, Filip Hrgovic, and Joe Joyce. Wardley took a less typical path, emerging from unlicensed boxing and working in recruitment before rising through notable stoppage wins over Justis Huni and former world champ Joseph Parker ahead of their initial clash.

Title on the Line

Dubois’s WBO world heavyweight title is defended over 12 rounds of three minutes each. This marks the first defense of his second world title reign after previously holding the IBF heavyweight belt before losing it to Usyk in July 2025. Wardley once held the WBO belt as interim champion but lost it in his first defense to Dubois.

The WBO crown is one of four major heavyweight titles currently spread across four fighters: Dubois (WBO), Agit Kabayel (WBC), Filip Hrgovic (IBF), and Murat Gassiev (WBA).

Recap of Their First Encounter

Their initial bout at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena featured multiple knockdowns and shifts in momentum. Wardley stunned early by flooring Dubois twice, yet Dubois recovered to secure an 11th-round stoppage.

Wardley fought bravely despite severe injuries including a broken nose and swollen eye, enduring ringside medical checks. By round 10, he was visibly struggling, sparking calls for the fight to be stopped sooner.

Former world champion Carl Frampton called Wardley "the bravest man I’ve ever seen" but believed the referee or corner should have intervened earlier. Darren Barker also urged for the fight to be halted to protect Wardley.

Punch stats showed Dubois landing 179 punches to Wardley’s 97, with 87 power shots by Dubois compared to 40 for Wardley.

Both fighters enhanced their reputations—Wardley for heart and persistence, Dubois for answering questions about his toughness.

What’s Next for the Winner?

The heavyweight scene could shift dramatically soon. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally face off at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium this December, more than ten years after talks began.

Their fight is reportedly for a WBA super heavyweight title, though controversy exists since Gassiev remains recognized as WBA world champion, with his team objecting to another WBA heavyweight champion being crowned.

The victor between Dubois and Wardley might enter 2027 with several big opportunities. For Dubois, a win would confirm his superiority over Wardley, boosting his record against top heavyweights like Joshua, Hrgovic, and Wardley himself.

Unification bouts against Kabayel or Hrgovic would be logical next steps. The winner of Fury-Joshua could provide a major all-British showdown depending on the WBA situation.

For Wardley, reclaiming the title would avenge his only defeat and place him firmly among the division’s elite with unification talks likely.

Losses carry different consequences. Another defeat for Wardley means rebuilding before another title shot. If Dubois loses, the rivalry evens at 1-1, and talk of a trilogy would likely start immediately.

2026 Boxing Schedule and Results

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