Heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois will fight Fabio Wardley in a high-stakes rematch at The O2 in London on Saturday October 17.
The bout honours a rematch clause confirmed in the ring by veteran promoter Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions following their dramatic first fight in Manchester in May, which was hailed as one of the great modern British heavyweight contests.
Dubois captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight championship by stopping Wardley in the 11th round at the Co-op Live Arena after surviving early knockdowns in a relentless Fight of the Year contender.
First fight drama at the Co-op Live Arena
The initial contest saw Wardley send Dubois to the canvas inside the opening seconds of the first round before dropping him onto one knee again in the third. Dubois showed remarkable resilience to recover and wear down the champion as the fight progressed.
Referee Howard Foster stepped in early in the 11th round to halt the contest. Wardley refused to go down despite suffering a gashed nose and a severely swollen eye, bringing his title reign to an end in his first defence.
Victory established Dubois as a two-time world heavyweight champion. The London-born boxer added the WBO crown to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title he previously held and successfully defended with a knockout victory over former champion Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium.
Return to The O2 arena
The O2 in Greenwich, East London, serves as a significant venue for Wardley. It was at the 20,000-capacity arena last October that the Ipswich heavyweight announced himself at world level, recovering from the brink of defeat to stop former WBO champion Joseph Parker in the 11th round for the interim WBO belt.
Wardley was subsequently elevated to full WBO champion when undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title. Wardley's ascent to the top of the division represents an unusual route in combat sports, having launched his career in white-collar boxing rather than through a traditional amateur boxing background.
The October clash at The O2 marks the second meeting between the two British heavyweights in 2026, with the WBO world title again on the line in the capital.
