Fabio Wardley is preparing for a highly anticipated rematch against Daniel Dubois following his defeat in May, when he lost the WBO heavyweight world title after an intense battle in Manchester. The 31-year-old from Ipswich was stopped after 11 rounds despite early success that included two knockdowns against Dubois.
Wardley, who came into the fight undefeated in 21 professional contests, acknowledged mistakes that ultimately allowed Dubois to wrest control of the match. “I knocked him down twice, which proves it wasn’t a fluke,” Wardley said. “I just went about the work after that wrong and it let him take over. Those things I can adjust.” He emphasized his confidence in both his power and resilience, stating that both fighters know the stakes: if Wardley lands a punch, Dubois will go down, but if Dubois connects, Wardley will remain standing.
The original encounter saw Wardley score a quick knockdown within the first nine seconds, followed by another in the third round. However, Dubois, who has more than a decade of boxing experience since starting at age nine, rallied after a motivational reminder from his trainer Don Charles. In contrast, Wardley started boxing at 21 and had only limited amateur bouts before turning professional.
Following the defeat, Wardley took a measured approach to reviewing the fight, waiting two weeks before watching the footage to avoid causing distress to his partner, Charlotte, and their children. “My missus really doesn’t enjoy it so I had to wait for her and the baby to go to bed,” he said. Charlotte was present during the initial fight and plans to attend the rematch, scheduled for Saturday at The O2 in London. Wardley described the support from his family as vital in overcoming the psychological challenges of boxing, with Charlotte regularly checking in on him post-fight.
Looking ahead, Wardley stressed that the upcoming bout would be a contest of strategy as much as physicality. “I feel like I lost the first fight, more than he won it. I had it in the palm of my hand, twice, and I let it go,” he said. He believes his capacity for growth and tactical adjustment gives him an edge over Dubois and is confident that his evolution as a fighter will be decisive in securing redemption in their next meeting.