Dubois vs Wardley 2: What You Need to Know About the Heavyweight Rematch
Daniel Dubois will defend his WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley in a rematch set for Saturday at London's O2 Arena. The first fight, held five months ago in Manchester, was a dramatic battle where Dubois overcame two knockdowns to stop Wardley in the 11th round and claim the world championship for the second time.
Wardley, from Ipswich, suffered the first loss of his career in that bout but quickly activated his rematch clause. Now, both fighters face the question of whether Dubois can repeat his victory or if Wardley can finish what he started in their May encounter.
How to Watch and Listen to Dubois vs Wardley 2
Live text updates will start at 21:00 BST on Saturday, October 17, available on the BBC Sport website and app. Radio coverage from London begins at the same time on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, with the main event broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live at 22:00.
The broadcast team includes presenter Stacey Copeland, lead commentator Ronald McIntosh, along with Steve Bunce and former super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall as co-commentators. Fans can also join live watch-along sessions on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, app, YouTube, and TikTok channels. Contributors Nick Peet, British heavyweight champ Richard Riakporhe, and Punch Perfect hosts Emily Smith and Liam Gough will provide real-time reactions and analysis.
Expected Ringwalk Times and Undercard Details
The ringwalks are expected after 22:30 BST, though exact timings may change.
- 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
- Wednesday: Open workouts at 17:00 BST
- Thursday: News conference at 12:30 BST
- Friday: Weigh-in at 18:00 BST
Comparing Dubois and Wardley’s Records
Physically, the two fighters are closely matched, and their power is almost equal. Dubois holds a record of 23 wins in 26 fights, with 22 knockouts. Wardley’s record stands at 20 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, including 19 knockouts. Combined, they have finished 41 of their 43 victories by stoppage.
Where Dubois has an edge is experience against top-tier opponents. He has faced Oleksandr Usyk twice and fought notable heavyweights like Anthony Joshua, Filip Hrgovic, and Joe Joyce. Wardley's path to the top was less traditional, rising from unlicensed white-collar boxing and working in recruitment at 19. His rapid ascent included stoppages over Justis Huni and former world champion Joseph Parker before meeting Dubois.
Titles at Stake
The fight is for Dubois’ WBO heavyweight world title, contested over 12 rounds of three minutes each. This marks his first defense since reclaiming the title. Dubois previously held the IBF heavyweight belt but lost it in a rematch with Usyk in July 2025.
Wardley became WBO champion when elevated from interim status but lost the belt in his first defense to Dubois. Currently, the four major heavyweight belts are held by four different fighters: Dubois (WBO), Agit Kabayel (WBC), Filip Hrgovic (IBF), and Murat Gassiev (WBA).
Recap of Their First Fight
Their initial bout at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena had it all: knockdowns, shifting momentum, brutal exchanges, and a stunning comeback. Wardley started strong, knocking Dubois down twice early on, but Dubois rallied to stop Wardley in round 11.
Wardley endured severe damage, including a broken nose and a swollen eye, yet kept fighting. Medical staff checked him multiple times ringside before allowing the match to continue. By round 10, he was visibly struggling, and many felt the fight should have been stopped earlier.
Former world champion Carl Frampton called Wardley "the bravest man I've ever seen," but suggested the referee or his corner should have stopped the fight sooner. Darren Barker also urged for the contest to end to protect Wardley.
Statistics from that fight show Dubois landed 179 punches compared to Wardley’s 97, including 87 power shots for Dubois versus 40 for Wardley. Despite the punishment, both emerged with stronger reputations: Wardley for his heart and Dubois for proving his resilience.
What’s Next for the Winner?
The heavyweight scene could shift by year’s end. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are set to fight in Cardiff this December, more than ten years after their bout was first proposed. Their match may involve the controversial WBA super heavyweight title, though Murat Gassiev's camp has objected to another WBA champion being crowned.
The winner of Dubois vs Wardley could find several big opportunities in 2027. For Dubois, a win would settle their rivalry 2-0 and solidify his second reign as world champion. At 29, beating Joshua, Hrgovic, and Wardley twice would give him one of the most impressive records among top heavyweights.
Unification bouts against Kabayel or Hrgovic are likely goals, while facing the winner of Fury-Joshua might become an appealing British showdown, depending on how the WBA title dispute resolves.
If Wardley wins, he would regain the title, avenge his only loss, and enter the unification conversation. Losing twice to Dubois would mean he needs to rebuild before getting another shot at the world title. Should Dubois lose, the score between them would be even, sparking immediate calls for a trilogy fight.
