Fabio Wardley feels ‘weightless and free’ ahead of Daniel Dubois rematch
Fabio Wardley has it all to do when he faces Daniel Dubois in a rematch this Saturday at London’s O2 Arena.
Back in May, the pair treated viewers to one of the best heavyweight humdingers in recent history, knocking lumps out of each other for 11 bloody rounds. Despite Ipswich, England’s Wardley having Dubois down twice early, it was he who was on the blunt end of most of the punishment. London’s Dubois rallied back from hitting the canvas in the first and third sessions to beat Wardley from pillar to post until the referee Howard Foster finally saved the freakishly tough Wardley for another day.
Wardley handed over his WBO heavyweight title following the defeat, and there were questions if the 20-1-1 (19 KOs) would fancy a rematch – that he was contractually obliged to – due to the brutal nature of the contest.
Wardley put an end to those questions a mere days following the first loss of his career when he activated the rematch clause, and he will now enter this Saturday’s rematch as the challenger – something he is relishing.
“Honestly, it's great. Actually I really love it. It feels more natural, feels more weightless,” Wardley told members of the media. “Don't get me wrong, it's all fantastic being a world champion and holding that and I don't think it's necessarily just the fact that I was world champion, but having an undefeated record as well and going in with such a good fighter like Daniel holds a level of weight. And now I just feel free.
“The kind of talk around the fight has changed. I'm back to being expected to lose and things going worse for me and I'm the challenger and I'm the chaser, and honestly for me it all just feels like 'Ah, this is it, this is the nice bit that I enjoyed for the past however many years on my rise and on my way up. It feels great.’”
Wardley has been proving fans, journalists, and so-called boxing experts wrong since his transition from white-collar boxing to the professional ranks. After defying the odds in a run that saw him defeat Frazer Clarke, Justis Huni and Joseph Parker, many believed Wardley would handle Dubois.
However, when Wardley steps into the ring with Dubois for a second time this weekend, there are few that are picking him to turn things around.
So, does that play to his advantage?
“A relaxed fighter is comfortable and confident and I think that's always beneficial, so the short answer would be yes,” said Wardley.
“I've been proving them wrong for I don't know how many years now. It was funny because the pendulum swung and then everyone said ‘Oh, this is the one you're gonna win, actually. We think you're gonna get this one.’ And then I end up losing.
“Seemingly for me it's better when I'm told I'm going to be the underdog, when I'm told I'm gonna be losing, or when I'm told this is the level too far. It's just a lot of outside noise. It has no real bearing on me, the team, how I train, or anything at all like that.”
