Wardley Triggers The Dubois Rematch

• Fabio Wardley has activated the rematch clause from his May defeat to Daniel Dubois
• A second fight for the WBO heavyweight title is now expected later in 2026
• Wardley aims to apply the lessons of a fight he led in patches before an 11th-round stoppage

Wardley Wants It Back

Right then, the rematch is on the table—and good. Fabio Wardley has activated the rematch clause from his defeat to Daniel Dubois, setting the wheels in motion for a return later this year to win back the WBO heavyweight title he came up short for in May. Make no mistake, this is the right call. You don’t walk away from a night like that—you go and put it right.

The First Fight

Let’s not beat around the bush: Dubois got the job done. The stoppage in the eleventh at the Co-op Live in Manchester was a brutal end to a fight that had been competitive in patches. Wardley, as he always does, came to have a war, and for long spells he was right in it. But Dubois’ power and his work upstairs eventually told, and once the finish came it was emphatic.

Why Wardley Can Be More Competitive Second Time

Here’s the thing about Wardley—he’s improved in every single fight of his career. The man learned this sport on the white-collar circuit and turned himself into a genuine world-level heavyweight through sheer graft and a proper engine. A second crack at Dubois, with the tactical lessons of the first fight banked, is a very different proposition. He’ll know not to get drawn into the firefight that suited Dubois.

The Bigger Heavyweight Picture

The timing is everything. The division is moving fast—Moses Itauma is charging up the rankings, the belts are shifting hands, and a Wardley win over Dubois throws another British name right into the mix at the very top. There’s genuine jeopardy in this for both men, which is exactly why it’s a fight worth making.

The Prediction

I won’t fence-sit. First time round I’d have leaned Dubois, and I did. Second time? I still make Dubois the favourite—his power is the great equaliser and it travels into the late rounds. But I think Wardley makes it far closer, takes it deep, and gives himself a real shout on the cards if he boxes smart. Dubois on points or a very late stoppage in a cracker. Either way, British heavyweight boxing wins.