Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois will meet again on October 17 in a rematch. The fight will take place at the O2 Arena in London, a venue that has hosted many major boxing events. Wardley lost his title to Dubois in May during an intense battle that went the distance.
In their first encounter, Wardley dropped Dubois twice in the early rounds but was ultimately defeated by a strong comeback from his opponent, according to The Sun. Wardley’s decision to pursue a rematch came quickly after the initial bout, despite concerns from fans and experts. He has been training hard in preparation for this second chance to reclaim his belt.
The 31-year-old fighter is a new father and has shown great resilience in the face of tough competition. Wardley’s courage was evident throughout the first fight, as he never gave up even when badly hurt. In the eleventh round, a referee stepped in to protect him from continuing to fight after he had taken too many blows.
Despite the tough loss, Wardley remains confident in his ability to win the rematch. He said the fight in London would be about revenge rather than just another rematch. Promoter Frank Warren confirmed that the rematch was already agreed upon and was only waiting for a venue to be finalized.
Warren mentioned that the event would be announced within a week or so. Dubois has expressed confidence in his ability to dominate again in the rematch, according to a report from the BBC. He added that he was looking forward to getting back into the ring after a tough fight with Itauma.
The heavyweight division is currently split among several champions following Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate his titles. Russian Murat Gassiev holds the WBA title, while Agit Kabayel is the WBC champion. Wardley’s rise in boxing has been remarkable, especially after his victory over Joseph Parker in October 2025, Yahoo Sports reported.
That win earned him the WBO interim belt, which he later upgraded to a full title after Usyk chose not to defend against him. Dubois’s victory over Wardley could set up a major all-British showdown in 2027 with Moses Itauma. Itauma is set to face Filip Hrgovic for the IBF heavyweight title.
The rematch will be a major event for boxing fans in London and beyond.