Fabio Wardley is preparing to face Daniel Dubois in a highly anticipated heavyweight rematch scheduled for October 17 at London’s O2 Arena. The bout comes five months after Dubois defeated Wardley in Manchester in what was widely regarded as a fight of the year contender.
In their previous encounter, Wardley dropped Dubois twice within the first three rounds. However, Dubois recovered and ultimately secured an 11th-round stoppage, claiming the WBO heavyweight title and becoming a two-time world champion. Both fighters have expressed confidence ahead of their second meeting, with Wardley emphasizing improvements in his training and readiness.
Wardley, a former heavyweight world champion, has framed the rematch as an opportunity not only to reclaim the title but also to support and vindicate his coach, Ben Davison. Davison, once hailed by the British Boxing Board of Control as Trainer of the Year in 2025, has faced criticism following high-profile losses suffered by fighters under his tutelage. Most notably, Wardley’s loss to Dubois stirred debate over when to stop the fight, and recently, Moses Itauma’s defeat to Filip Hrgovic drew further scrutiny to Davison’s training and strategy. Itauma, a promising 21-year-old prospect coached by Davison, was stopped late in the fight after showing signs of fatigue.
Wardley has vocally defended Davison, describing the criticism as harsh and unjust, and credited the coach for significant improvements in his own boxing skills since joining his team. “He’s taught me so much about boxing,” Wardley said, highlighting the technical and tactical growth he has experienced during his time under Davison’s guidance. Wardley recognizes the rematch as a chance to demonstrate the collective strength of his camp and repay the support of his trainer.
On the other side, Dubois, 28, remains confident he will replicate his success. He acknowledges the intense nature of their previous fight but believes his champion’s pedigree and preparation will make the second encounter more straightforward. “He can’t change his style, he’ll do the same stuff again and I’ll be ready for it this time from the off,” Dubois stated, expressing his ambition to become Britain’s first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis.
Both fighters are expected to deliver a compelling contest that will have significant implications for their standings in the heavyweight division and the reputation of their respective training teams. The rematch will be closely watched by fans and industry experts eager to see if Wardley can reclaim his title and if Davison can overcome the recent criticism leveling his camp.