Key points:
- Daniel Dubois defends his WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley on October 17 at London’s O2 Arena
- The rematch date was announced Saturday night, the same night as Itauma-Hrgovic
- Dubois survived two knockdowns in their first meeting in May before winning by 11th-round stoppage
- Dubois called it a “dominant” win despite the early trouble
Daniel Dubois will defend his WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley for a second time on October 17 at London’s O2 Arena, with the date confirmed during Saturday night’s ring announcement at the same venue. October 17 is also Champions Day at Ascot, so the horse racing betting sites will be busy before the first bell; the O2 will by then have hosted Premier League darts finals night and two heavyweight title fights in one year, and punters funding all three from one wallet can find the PayPal bookmakers that accept it here.
Dubois described his first meeting with Wardley in characteristically upbeat terms. “Of course, another dominant victory and, you know, amazing performance. I can’t wait,” he said. The framing skips past the two knockdowns Wardley scored in rounds one and three of their May fight, a detail Dubois waved off when it was raised directly. “When you get in the water, you’re going to get wet,” he said.
Wardley earned this second opportunity through a rematch clause after his first loss, having previously credited adjustments between his two fights with Frazer Clarke, along with his performances against Justis Huni and Joseph Parker, as evidence he can correct mistakes between fights. Whether that adaptability extends to solving a puncher who’s already hurt him badly once is exactly what October 17 is set to test. With only about five months between the two fights, Wardley enters having had less recovery time than a full training camp typically allows.