Dubois to defend WBO heavyweight title against Wardley at O2 Arena on 17 October
Daniel Dubois will defend his WBO heavyweight world title against former champion Fabio Wardley on 17 October at London's O2 Arena, the fight was announced during the undercard of Moses Itauma's IBF heavyweight world title bout with Filip Hrgovic on Saturday.
The pair met in May in Manchester, when Dubois dethroned Wardley with an 11th-round stoppage to become a two-time world champion. Daniel Dubois (left) has 22 knockouts in 23 wins, with three defeats, while Fabio Wardley has 20 victories, including 19 stoppages, with one loss and one draw. Wardley dropped Dubois twice early in that contest before a referee stopped the fight, handing Wardley the first defeat of his professional career in his 22nd bout.
The rematch was announced with both fighters coming together in the ring during the Itauma-Hrgovic undercard. Dubois predicted a "dominant victory" and added: "Let's get it on. It's just a war. "When you get in the water, you're going to get wet. We will see. Give me some of that face-to-face - boy."
Fabio Wardley, speaking to DAZN, said: "It didn't take long at all [to agree]. The O2 is like a home away from home for me," and added: "Looking forward to getting straight back into it. Going to be a rematch and going to be revenge. "We came into the fight with all the confidence in the world, but adjustments needed to be made." The Ipswich fighter noted his rise through the sport began after he took up boxing at the age of 19 and progressed through the unlicensed white-collar scene.
Dubois is a 26-fight veteran who has suffered three defeats during his career but rebuilt to claim world honours twice, with the win over Wardley described in the announcement as the latest chapter in his comeback. The Manchester stoppage returned Dubois to the top of the division and set up the scheduled October rematch in London.
The heavyweight landscape remains divided following Oleksandr Usyk's decision to vacate his titles. Russian Murat Gassiev currently holds the WBA belt, while Germany's Agit Kabayel is the WBC champion, details cited in the announcement regarding the wider title picture in the division.
The winner of Dubois-Wardley II could be positioned for a high-profile meeting next summer with Moses Itauma, provided Itauma secures a world title. The winner of the Itauma versus Hrgovic contest will be required to face mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez, and promoter Frank Warren has suggested a potential Wembley Stadium clash between the winner of Dubois-Wardley II and Itauma if "Should Itauma - who is aiming to become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history after Mike Tyson - come through both fights."
