Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley II | DAZN - 17 October 2026

[margaret thatcher]

If you have to pick from Dubois or Wardley, as to which guy can adjust their fight plan in a rematch, surely it has to be Wardley?
Dubois in the second Usyk fight was the same, maybe worse, while Wardley in the second Clarke fight was an absolute beast.

what did wardley really do different in the second clarke fight? a different result doesnt always mean a different approach was used. he came out throwing hard, which is what he does. he just so happened to catch clarke early that time, but it wasnt some masterful readjustment from the first fight

wardley made dubois look like a high iq fighter in their bout, i dont really see particular intelligence from fabio

[Grilling Machine]

Intelligence outside the ring, not necessarily nous within. We know he'll have thought about all those missed haymakers and not want to fall into the same trap. He might. Some argue it's his best bet.

Rewatch his downstairs work in the Clarke rematch if you haven't seen it recently though; bit of variety. Virtually absent against Dubois. Some of the chat now describes him swinging for the fences, forgetting the head movement, jab and bodyshots that comprised his best performance.

You would put your mortgage on this being a good fight

I'd put mine on Smith mentioning a cup of tea.

[forcefraser]

Danny D is going to tear Wardley a new chute.

Very disappointed in the undercard. The main event is great, but the card as a whole is miles off a PPV worthy event

Game changed?

[Cent0089]

I am curious, who is betting favorite in this one?

[Coco]

I am curious, who is betting favorite in this one?

Surely DDD

[JC]

Dubois is heavy favourite with the stoppage odds on.

[keithmoonhangover]

If you have to pick from Dubois or Wardley, as to which guy can adjust their fight plan in a rematch, surely it has to be Wardley?
Dubois in the second Usyk fight was the same, maybe worse, while Wardley in the second Clarke fight was an absolute beast.

I think DDD will be taking this lightly and will be worse than the first fight. Wardley will make adjustments, but the effects of the beating he took in the first fight will also play a part.

[MightyWarrior]

Optimistically put a bet on Fabio by KO, because of the odds. Though on reflection I think I blocked out the second half of that fight, as it was so horrific, but I’m reminded of it as people describe what happened again.

That was some serious damage the poor guy took, diabolical corner work too.

Anyway, mainly for his sake, I’m hoping he comes out and lands heavily, because he can definitely hurt DD. It’s his only chance. And he might get lucky early on.

[joshj909]

The downside of Wardley winning is that they'll probably give us another rematch... I suspect we'd get a Dubois-Hrgovic rematch if Dubois wins anyway.

[keithmoonhangover]

The downside of Wardley winning is that they'll probably give us another rematch... I suspect we'd get a Dubois-Hrgovic rematch if Dubois wins anyway.

If Wardley sparks him in an entertaining fight, you wouldn't want a third?

[MasterG]

Very good chance of free tickets for this fight. I'm guessing tomorrow they will be out as there are still plenty for sale.

I would think £5-95 booking fee per ticket.

If anyone wants a ticket let me know. Should be able to get up to 4 then will go down to 2 per person.

They will go fast once offered.

[Frostieballs]

Optimistically put a bet on Fabio by KO, because of the odds. Though on reflection I think I blocked out the second half of that fight, as it was so horrific, but I’m reminded of it as people describe what happened again.

That was some serious damage the poor guy took, diabolical corner work too.

Anyway, mainly for his sake, I’m hoping he comes out and lands heavily, because he can definitely hurt DD. It’s his only chance. And he might get lucky early on.

I think Wardley might box patiently and could stop him in second half of fight.

[joshj909]

The downside of Wardley winning is that they'll probably give us another rematch... I suspect we'd get a Dubois-Hrgovic rematch if Dubois wins anyway.

If Wardley sparks him in an entertaining fight, you wouldn't want a third?

It would be a great fight to watch but the division has become so stagnant without fresh fights. There's no reason they they both can't go and have other big fights then a trilogy fight in a couple of years down the line.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dubois laughs off Wardley's power: 'He punches like a baby'

Daniel Dubois was dropped twice inside three rounds against Fabio Wardley but still says the Ipswich man “punches like a baby.”

The pair meet for their rematch at London’s O2 Arena Saturday night but this time Dubois will be the one defending the WBO heavyweight title after stopping Wardley in the 11th round on May 9.

It was a dramatic turnaround at Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester, given that Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) had touched down after just 10 seconds as a result of one of Wardley’s famed right hands.

But having clambered up off the canvas then, and again in the third, the 29-year-old Londoner does not rate his opponent’s power whatsoever.

“He punches like a baby,” Dubois said. “He doesn't have no power, he doesn't punch. I didn’t feel anything.”

The stats throughout Wardley’s career tell a wildly different story. He has 19 knockouts from 20 victories and the knockdowns in Manchester maintained his run of dropping every single one of his opponents.

But Dubois added: “He hasn't got no power and he ain't going to be able to take my punches either.

“I just know I'm going to bash him up easy. I'm going to take away what I need from that first fight. I've learned what I need to learn from the first fight and I'm just ready to put it on him. I know what I'm going to do to him is going to be a lot worse. I just can't wait.”

Dubois has been known to start slowly throughout his career. It is now nearly four years since Kevin Lerena dropped him three times in the first round only to get stopped himself in the third at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

When asked how he managed to cope with such an early knockdown against Wardley, he replied: “Well how would you respond?
"You just get up and you keep fighting. It’s just early doors, whatever, I didn’t feel nothing. I just plough through it, that’s what my mentality was; just plough through it, chip away and I did that.”

Wardley is adamant that he has gone away and studied the first fight in detail in order to identify what adjustments need to be made ahead of Saturday’s DAZN PPV headliner. But Dubois laughs at the suggestion.

“He's not good enough to adapt,” Dubois adds. “He's still going to do the same thing.

“I just know that I'm going to smash him up. Take away whatever thoughts he has in his head, I'm going to punch it out of his head and move on.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[mooman]

Damn, you done me up like a kipper there.

You did make it easy to be fair.

Of course Dubois 'officially' quit because of an alleged broken eye socket. When the quitter noise got too much his promoter got a note off a surgeon stating how great it was Dubois quit and how it saved him from a career ending injury etc .. of course, it's pretty easy to pay a surgeon to write anything you want really ..

I disagree with that.

Why would an extremely well paid surgeon, who presumably is well respected within his field, risk his reputation and potentially his career by lying about an injury just to trouser a few quid ? It would make no sense.

Because he got paid to?

Donald Trump's Doctor wrote that Trump was in excellent health, weighed only 225lb and 6'3" tall .. basically wrote exactly what Trump asked him to. That blatant lie from a real top Doctor ..

It's not like a Doctors letter hasn't been rolled out before/since is it

[joshj909]

You did make it easy to be fair.

Of course Dubois 'officially' quit because of an alleged broken eye socket. When the quitter noise got too much his promoter got a note off a surgeon stating how great it was Dubois quit and how it saved him from a career ending injury etc .. of course, it's pretty easy to pay a surgeon to write anything you want really ..

I disagree with that.

Why would an extremely well paid surgeon, who presumably is well respected within his field, risk his reputation and potentially his career by lying about an injury just to trouser a few quid ? It would make no sense.

Because he got paid to?

Donald Trump's Doctor wrote that Trump was in excellent health, weighed only 225lb and 6'3" tall .. basically wrote exactly what Trump asked him to. That blatant lie from a real top Doctor ..

It's not like a Doctors letter hasn't been rolled out before/since is it

Happens in court all the time. It's amazing how experts have completely opposing views on facts because they're paid to.

Also, Dubois also did not do his ACL against Lerena either did he, let's be honest. Frank also said Itauma had an injured leg and that was the only reason he lost against Hrgovic.

[keithmoonhangover]

I disagree with that.

Why would an extremely well paid surgeon, who presumably is well respected within his field, risk his reputation and potentially his career by lying about an injury just to trouser a few quid ? It would make no sense.

Because he got paid to?

Donald Trump's Doctor wrote that Trump was in excellent health, weighed only 225lb and 6'3" tall .. basically wrote exactly what Trump asked him to. That blatant lie from a real top Doctor ..

It's not like a Doctors letter hasn't been rolled out before/since is it

Happens in court all the time. It's amazing how experts have completely opposing views on facts because they're paid to.

Also, Dubois also did not do his ACL against Lerena either did he, let's be honest. Frank also said Itauma had an injured leg and that was the only reason he lost against Hrgovic.

My Mrs currently is recovering from doing her ACL, it happened the night Bilal Fawaz beat Ishmael Davis and she can still barely walk. There is no way he couldn't stand in round one and miraculously had the balance to fight on and win by stoppage.

[joshj909]

Because he got paid to?

Donald Trump's Doctor wrote that Trump was in excellent health, weighed only 225lb and 6'3" tall .. basically wrote exactly what Trump asked him to. That blatant lie from a real top Doctor ..

It's not like a Doctors letter hasn't been rolled out before/since is it

Happens in court all the time. It's amazing how experts have completely opposing views on facts because they're paid to.

Also, Dubois also did not do his ACL against Lerena either did he, let's be honest. Frank also said Itauma had an injured leg and that was the only reason he lost against Hrgovic.

My Mrs currently is recovering from doing her ACL, it happened the night Bilal Fawaz beat Ishmael Davis and she can still barely walk. There is no way he couldn't stand in round one and miraculously had the balance to fight on and win by stoppage.

And he fought Usyk 8 months after that. It takes other athletes 9-12 months to get back onto the pitch. No way was he healed and back in training after 6 months with a torn ACL. He might have sprained it or something but no chance he properly tore it. That won't get in the way of Frank claiming an injury was the only reason his guy lost (nearly lost) though.

[keithmoonhangover]

Happens in court all the time. It's amazing how experts have completely opposing views on facts because they're paid to.

Also, Dubois also did not do his ACL against Lerena either did he, let's be honest. Frank also said Itauma had an injured leg and that was the only reason he lost against Hrgovic.

My Mrs currently is recovering from doing her ACL, it happened the night Bilal Fawaz beat Ishmael Davis and she can still barely walk. There is no way he couldn't stand in round one and miraculously had the balance to fight on and win by stoppage.

And he fought Usyk 8 months after that. It takes other athletes 9-12 months to get back onto the pitch. No way was he healed and back in training after 6 months with a torn ACL. He might have sprained it or something but no chance he properly tore it. That won't get in the way of Frank claiming an injury was the only reason his guy lost though.

It's a bit like Andy Lee saying Ben Whittaker had COVID, the difference is I believe Andy Lee.

[PRINCEKOOL]

The downside of Wardley winning is that they'll probably give us another rematch... I suspect we'd get a Dubois-Hrgovic rematch if Dubois wins anyway.

If Wardley sparks him in an entertaining fight, you wouldn't want a third?

This is another new cult like attitude which has sprung up in the boxing community 'Promoter fan boys, people gushing and pining over the UFC model in sports, and people who rage against rematches'.

Note: Certain people in the boxing community need to understand that boxing is a competitive individual sport 'with real people. Not computer game characters'.

If Fabio Wardley beats Daniel Dubois 'then the former champion, deserves a rematch. This is how boxing has always operated'.

Now? I have not been Daniel Dubois's biggest proponent throughout the years 'and I still don't rate him very highly as an elite level fighter. But he is for sure a legitimate world champion'.

Maybe the folk who don't like rematches are Tyson Fury's hardcore fans? After all, Fury beat Wladimir Kiltschko and then denied him a rematch and disappeared unfortunately due to his then circumstance'.

17 months later 'Anthony Joshua stepped up and fought the version of Wladimir Kiltschko who Tyson Fury should have fought in their rematch. It was Joshua not Fury, who conclusively took the heavyweight divisions into a new dynasty. After knocking out Wladimir Kiltschko and forcing him to retire, in the greatest heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years'.

The main point I am trying to make is? Champions deserve rematches. The flow of the game is not dictated by the fans, it is about the fighters. Who they want to fight and the contenders they must defend their titles against' etc.

[keithmoonhangover]

The downside of Wardley winning is that they'll probably give us another rematch... I suspect we'd get a Dubois-Hrgovic rematch if Dubois wins anyway.

If Wardley sparks him in an entertaining fight, you wouldn't want a third?

This is another new cult like attitude which has sprung up in the boxing community 'Promoter fan boys, people gushing and pining over the UFC model in sports, and people who rage against rematches'.

Note: Certain people in the boxing community need to understand that boxing is a competitive individual sport 'with real people. Not computer game characters'.

If Fabio Wardley beats Daniel Dubois 'then the former champion, deserves a rematch. This is how boxing has always operated'.

Now? I have not been Daniel Dubois's biggest proponent throughout the years 'and I still don't rate him very highly as an elite level fighter. But he is for sure a legitimate world champion'.

Maybe the folk who don't like rematches are Tyson Fury's hardcore fans? After all, Fury beat Wladimir Kiltschko and then denied him a rematch and disappeared unfortunately due to his then circumstance'.

17 months later 'Anthony Joshua stepped up and fought the version of Wladimir Kiltschko who Tyson Fury should have fought in their rematch. It was Joshua not Fury, who conclusively took the heavyweight divisions into a new dynasty. After knocking out Wladimir Kiltschko and forcing him to retire, in the greatest heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years'.

The main point I am trying to make is? Champions deserve rematches. The flow of the game is not dictated by the fans, it is about the fighters. Who they want to fight and the contenders they must defend their titles against' etc.

[Kilburn]

There might have been some ACL talk at the time after the Lerena fight, but looking back it’s reasonably clear that Dubois got stunned with a left hook and in the process hurt his right ankle, the effects of which he struggled with for a while until he regrouped, before almost decapitating Lerena with that uppercut. It’s also clear IMO that Lerena was spared from a pretty heavy beating. At worst it was a shaky performance from Dubois that he came out the other end of inside 3 rounds.

People are of course free to speculate that a doctor was paid to make up lies about the severity of the Dubois eye damage versus Joyce, but given how well Dubois has performed in the trenches since, I’m inclined to write off this theory as.. well.. shite.

[joshj909]

If Wardley sparks him in an entertaining fight, you wouldn't want a third?

This is another new cult like attitude which has sprung up in the boxing community 'Promoter fan boys, people gushing and pining over the UFC model in sports, and people who rage against rematches'.

Note: Certain people in the boxing community need to understand that boxing is a competitive individual sport 'with real people. Not computer game characters'.

If Fabio Wardley beats Daniel Dubois 'then the former champion, deserves a rematch. This is how boxing has always operated'.

Now? I have not been Daniel Dubois's biggest proponent throughout the years 'and I still don't rate him very highly as an elite level fighter. But he is for sure a legitimate world champion'.

Maybe the folk who don't like rematches are Tyson Fury's hardcore fans? After all, Fury beat Wladimir Kiltschko and then denied him a rematch and disappeared unfortunately due to his then circumstance'.

17 months later 'Anthony Joshua stepped up and fought the version of Wladimir Kiltschko who Tyson Fury should have fought in their rematch. It was Joshua not Fury, who conclusively took the heavyweight divisions into a new dynasty. After knocking out Wladimir Kiltschko and forcing him to retire, in the greatest heavyweight title fight of the past 25 years'.

The main point I am trying to make is? Champions deserve rematches. The flow of the game is not dictated by the fans, it is about the fighters. Who they want to fight and the contenders they must defend their titles against' etc.

Why is this not bot banned yet? You're clearly not using AI because there's no intelligence to be found in your posts. Artificially written nonsense.

Think it's about time everyone else block PRINCEKOOL

[joshj909]

There might have been some ACL talk at the time after the Lerena fight, but looking back it’s reasonably clear that Dubois got stunned with a left hook and in the process hurt his right ankle, the effects of which he struggled with for a while until he regrouped, before almost decapitating Lerena with that uppercut. It’s also clear IMO that Lerena was spared from a pretty heavy beating. At worst it was a shaky performance from Dubois that he came out the other end of inside 3 rounds.

People are of course free to speculate that a doctor was paid to make up lies about the severity of the Dubois eye damage versus Joyce, but given how well Dubois has performed in the trenches since, I’m inclined to write off this theory as.. well.. shite.

It was Frank that came up with the ACL excuse at the time and Dubois ran with it. It was clearly nonsense. I don't believe that Dubois' injury was overblown, I don't necessarily have reason to believe so, however, Dubois has taken a knee more times than I have seen anyone else do it so it's worth analysing when he does it.