Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley are heading toward a rematch after Wardley activated his contractual right to a second fight.
Dubois stopped Wardley in the 11th round last Saturday at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester to win the WBO heavyweight title. The fight has already been described as a leading contender for 2026 Fight of the Year.
Wardley started fast, dropping Dubois in the opening seconds and putting him down again in round three. Dubois recovered, gradually took control, and forced referee Howard Foster to step in during round 11 after Wardley had absorbed heavy punishment.
“The boxing world knows my character, and Saturday night proved that without a shred of doubt,” Wardley told Sky Sports. “It was a fight for the ages, but I made some mistakes that I will rectify in the rematch.”
Watch Dubois vs. Wardley highlights: Watch
Queensberry is now expected to work toward staging the rematch in the final quarter of 2026. Wardley made his message clear: “Congratulations to Daniel, but I'm coming for you and my belt.”
Image Credit: BBC