BoxRec

tonyevs wrote: ↑15 Oct 2026, 12:13

I think the fact that Fury has a win over someone in the top 20 this year and ran Usyk far far far closer than Dubois did means he has a legitmate case to being ranked higher

Boxing just doesnt work like that though does it - if it did, Dubois deserves to be ranked higher than Fury, because he destroyed Joshua, who had destroyed Ngannou who had knocked Fury down and lots felt beat Fury ..

If Dubois and Fury both win their upcoming fights that would be a huge one for next year in England, but I doubt very much that Fury would be keen on it.

Fury vs Wardley would be awesome as hell should Wardley reverse the tide in the rematch

Hoping Fabio gets his revenge but it will be very difficult. I think Dubois could well be on the autism spectrum but he really proved himself last time. Really looking forward to it.

Danny D gonna bust Wardley up.

I reckon Wardley sees this a one dip and end it style cashout

I think Wardley is being underrated. He’s a bright guy and I believe can make the adjustments. I think it’s a 50 50 fight. Wardley also seems to have great confidence. His chin is superb and he’s faster and can punch. And his heart is enormous.

I’m looking forward to it and this fight is one of the rematches I appreciate.

My prediction of the outcomes for the entire event:

• Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley (DUBOIS — TKO8)
• Louie O'Doherty vs Michael Gomez Jnr (O'DOHERTY — Decision)
• Bakhodir Jalolov vs Solomon Dacres (JALOLOV — Decision)
• Nelson Birchall vs Levi Giles (BIRCHALL — Decision)
• Tony Curtis vs Kerim Agius (CURTIS — Decision)
• Manny Safari vs Jake Pollard (SAFARI — TKO2)
• Fawas Aborode vs Rashid Omar (ABORODE — Decision)
• Leighton Birchall vs Alejandro Morales Chazaro (BIRCHALL — TKO3)
• Adam Olaniyan vs Dan Garber (OLANIYAN — TKO3)
• Aaron Noriega vs Leonardo Baez (NORIEGA — Decision)
• Zayn Ahmed vs Kasey Bradnum (AHMED — TKO2)
• Issiah Hamilton-Allen vs Jensen Irving (HAMILTON-ALLEN — Decision)

Has Dubois ever knocked out a top opponent?

I know he's stopped loads of people but does he have any one punch kayos on his record?

Taansend wrote: ↑15 Oct 2026, 15:53 Has Dubois ever knocked out a top opponent?

I know he's stopped loads of people but does he have any one punch kayos on his record?

He’s not a one punch KO type of guy

Taansend wrote: ↑15 Oct 2026, 15:53 Has Dubois ever knocked out a top opponent?

I know he's stopped loads of people but does he have any one punch kayos on his record?

AJ

Although he’d obviously hurt him several times beforehand.

JC wrote: ↑15 Oct 2026, 15:55

Taansend wrote: ↑15 Oct 2026, 15:53 Has Dubois ever knocked out a top opponent?

I know he's stopped loads of people but does he have any one punch kayos on his record?

AJ

Although he’d obviously hurt him several times beforehand.

Oh yeah

Just rewatching.

That looping overhand right at the end of the first. AJ caught him with a flush uppercut a few seconds prior.

And in the 4th AJ was catching Dubois with some lovely shots but that same right hand knocks him out.

But yeah, that counts as a one punch knockout.

I feel this one is going early, over in 3 snd could go either way, Dubois seems incredibly confident and I think he will try take Wardleys head off from opening bell

Hard fight to call.
Slight lean toward Wardley.

Has Wardely's bubble been burst, he's had some hard nights and always come back to prevail, but I wouldnt at all be surprised if Dubois gets to him much earlier. I can't help but think that Wardley's blade has been blunted.

I would never discount Wardley completely as his power can turn a fight quickly, but that's his only real chance here.

Wardley will be dangerous the first couple of rounnds, swinging for the fences. I can see Big Danny D just bludgeoning him from the get go and doing him some serious harm

Hopefully Wardley knocks his block off, Dubois getting a bit too big for his boots.... My two pence worth, a Wardley stoppage win inside four rounds

Presser from yesterday

Wardley is the worst heavyweight champ there has been. He literally has no skills other than winging in a right hand.

TheLeprechaun wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 06:54 Wardley is the worst heavyweight champ there has been. He literally has no skills other than winging in a right hand.

Boxing is all about results, if you win, you had the skills to do so. Whether you box like SRL or Marciano, you have skills.

TheLeprechaun wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 06:54 Wardley is the worst heavyweight champ there has been. He literally has no skills other than winging in a right hand.

He is not the worst. Nowhere near.

TheLeprechaun wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 06:54 Wardley is the worst heavyweight champ there has been. He literally has no skills other than winging in a right hand.

I’m not even sure Wardley is worse than prime Wilder tbh.

I’m not convinced that Dubois will allow Wardley the breathing room to make good on his plan to box differently, even subtly. Surely for Fabio it’s again going to all be about setting up that big right hand.

The two knockdowns scored by Wardley last time both landed on the high / back part of Dubois’ head (the first one was definitely haymaker territory). Aside from those, Dubois either ate the right hands up or avoided them altogether.

I’m really not fancying Wardley can do too much differently. But if he does I’d be the first to congratulate him. Brave lad.

Wilder could box. He had a decent jab when he threw it

Fabio Wardley's team criticise Daniel Dubois' tactics in first fight as they demand a 'strong referee' for rematch

Daniel Dubois defeated Fabio Wardley in a thrilling WBO heavyweight title clash in May; ahead of Saturday’s rematch Wardley’s team have raised concerns about Dubois’ tactics in that first fight and called for stronger officiating in the return bout at The O2

Fabio Wardley’s team have raised fresh concerns about Daniel Dubois’ tactics in their first fight and called for a "stronger referee" in Saturday’s rematch.

Dubois rose from the canvas twice to claim a stoppage victory in a tremendous battle with Wardley and win the WBO heavyweight championship in May.

The two will rematch at London's O2 arena this weekend.

In the aftermath of the first fight, Wardley's team expressed their disappointment about the officiating of referee Howard Foster and manager Michael Ofo has voiced further questions about Dubois' approach.

"We're calling for a stronger referee, because it's needed," Ofo told Sky Sports. "We don't want it to be spoiled by having the same antics that were displayed in the first fight."

Ofo claimed: "There was a lot of leading with the head.

"The MMA rugby tackle. He said in a few interviews he wasn't hurt, he just took the knee. Why would you just take the knee and stop the flow of the action?"

Taking a knee is permissible but Ofo said: "There should be a punishment if you're not hurt and you take a knee.

"He got the victory but there was a lot of dirty Dan on display," Ofo added. "Fabio's a nice guy and he doesn't say it but it's our job to put the wrongs right."

Dubois' trainer Don Charles told Sky Sports: "I struggle to find out what he means… It's a fight.

"That's a very top, A-class referee. I'm sure he would have picked up if Daniel was fouling."

When asked what he put the opposing camp's claims down to, Charles said: "Insecurity and weakness".

"You want to clutch at whatever you're going to clutch at. It's too late."

Robert Smith, general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, assured: "The referee will look after both of them fairly."

Wardley is going into the rematch only five months after a punishing first fight. "I'm sure they're not foolish, they would have consulted a medical expert to get some form of clearance that he's fit to fight," Dubois' trainer Charles said.

"On the business front I totally understand and acknowledge why he would exercise that [rematch clause] because otherwise he would be in the queuing system where it could take him another 12 or 18 months, potentially 24 months, to be eligible to fight for another world title.

"So I totally understand on the business side."

Wardley is confident he can avenge his first professional loss.

Ofo said: "Straightaway the next day [after the fight] he was on the phone saying: 'I know I can correct my mistakes'.

"'I know exactly where I need to improve.'

"The doctors cleared him and there was no issue for the fight to take place," he added. "We want amazing fights so we can't complain when these fights happen.

"I don't think you will see a better heavyweight fight than the first one. I would rather [the rematch] happen now when both guys are still in their prime."

Kilburn wrote: ↑16 Oct 2026, 09:04 I’m not convinced that Dubois will allow Wardley the breathing room to make good on his plan to box differently, even subtly. Surely for Fabio it’s again going to all be about setting up that big right hand.

The two knockdowns scored by Wardley last time both landed on the high / back part of Dubois’ head (the first one was definitely haymaker territory). Aside from those, Dubois either ate the right hands up or avoided them altogether.

I’m really not fancying Wardley can do too much differently. But if he does I’d be the first to congratulate him. Brave lad.

Wardley can't really box. He has a dismal defence of upper body movement which clearly doesn't work. All he does is feint and then wing in an inaccurate right hand. Dubois can just win this off busting up Wardleys already busted up nose with his jab. By round 2/3 Wardley should be opened up. I think if people actually watch the last fight properly, they can see that Wardley was completely out of his league, jabbed up badly and beaten down in one of the worst hidings you'll see. Outclassed in every department. If you are Wardley, you have to engage in a shootout here.

Otherwise you get busted up with the jab. But Ben Davison will have him feinting and winging in an inaccurate right and getting jabbed up and stopped. Dubois jab is too good to have Wardleys crappy defence and busted up face sitting in front of him all night. We also know Daniel is a quitter. Wardley has to jump on him and if he hurts him properly, Dubois will give up. It's a low percentage outcome since Dubois will clobber him with counters in the process.

I just can't wait to see Wardley standing off, trying to box and getting easily handled by the jab and stopped.

Fabio Wardley team accuses Daniel Dubois of fouls, calls for stronger referee

Fabio Wardley's team were unhappy with what they perceived as rough tactics by Daniel Dubois' in their first heavyweight battle in May.

Dubois climbed off the canvas twice to stop Wardley in Round 11 in Manchester to become a two-time heavyweight champion and claim the WBO belt.

The pair will rematch in London on Saturday and Michael Ofo, Wardley's manager, told ESPN they will ask officials to watch Dubois' methods that they were unhappy with last time out.

"I wasn't happy with the MMA rugby tackles, there were a few points where he [Dubois] was putting the thumb [out] and sort of pawing in Fabio's face in an effort to open up the cut more," Ofo said.

"A few rabbit shots and leading with the head.

"We're calling for a stronger referee. Fabio's too much of a gentleman to call those things out but my role is to highlight these things.

"As much as it a was a fantastic fight, there were those issues that in the second fight could be the difference between Fabio winning and losing."

Asked if they had raised their concerns with the British Boxing Board of Control, Ofo said: "Yeah and we've said we want someone who's going to deal with it and we're going to be applying a lot of pressure on the referee on the night just to make sure, on both sides, that it's a fair fight."

While the fighters were tame at Thursday's news conference, the two managers threw verbal barbs across the table.

"Fabio had a rematch clause, and I was quite surprised that he instigated it really quickly," Riz Khan, Dubois' manager, said.

"I personally feel [Wardley has] underestimated coming into this fight so soon after the first fight.

"Daniel is stronger, fitter, sharper, leaner than what he was in the first fight.

"We know Fabio is not fully healed from his injuries, that's my personal opinion. He's going to try to take Daniel out in the first few rounds. Daniel's going to be ready to knock Fabio out, in my opinion, before Round 5."

I'd say after the fallout and criticism around the beating Wardley was allowed to take in the first fight, the chances of the ref jumping in early to save Wardley are very high

We won't see a replay of the shellacking. Hope we get a decent firefight before the ref jumps in.

I think I'm going Polish commentary again for this one. Smith's dramatic growls about the first fight, Wardley's white collar background and Daniel under Don Charles will send me into a flat spin