Daniel Dubois will defend his WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley on Saturday, October 17, at London’s O2 Arena, five months after stopping his fellow Briton in their first meeting.
Wardley will look to reclaim the belt, while Dubois aims to prove his Manchester victory was no accident.
Their first fight on May 9 saw Wardley take control early, dropping Dubois with a right hand just 10 seconds into the opening round before sending him to the canvas again in the third.
The Ipswich fighter appeared close to taking the title, but Dubois gradually worked his way back into the contest and began landing heavy shots of his own.
The champion eventually stopped Wardley in the 11th round to claim the WBO belt in one of the year’s most memorable heavyweight fights.
Dubois showed plenty of courage to recover from two knockdowns and turn the fight around. The Londoner has established himself as one of the division’s hardest punchers, but he knows another slow start could leave him with too much to do.
He has also said he wants to finish the rematch earlier, though Wardley’s power remains a threat he cannot afford to overlook.
Wardley, meanwhile, will need to build on the success he enjoyed in the opening rounds of their first encounter.
His right hand caused Dubois serious problems, but he was unable to maintain that advantage as the fight went on.
The challenger will need to manage his energy better and avoid giving Dubois the chance to take control through sustained attacks.
Wardley has already returned to the ring since losing his title, stopping Frazer Clarke in the first round. However, the rematch with Dubois presents a different challenge, particularly after the punishment he absorbed in their first meeting.
He will need to show that he can make the necessary adjustments without losing the aggression that made him so dangerous early in the fight.
Dubois knows what to expect from Wardley, but that doesn’t guarantee another victory.
The champion was knocked down twice in May, and Wardley has already shown that he can hurt him with a single clean shot. Avoiding those early mistakes will be important if Dubois is to retain his title.
Wardley, on the other hand, must find a way to maintain his attacking threat over the full fight. If he can manage the distance, pick his shots carefully and avoid allowing Dubois to build up a sustained attack, he has a chance to regain the championship.
