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Dubois Retains WBO Heavyweight Title with Second-Round TKO Over Wardley
· Confirmed
In Short: Daniel Dubois retained the WBO heavyweight title with a second-round TKO over Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena in London.
Daniel Dubois retained the WBO heavyweight title with a second-round TKO over Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena in London, in front of a sell-out crowd of 19,000.
Dubois, who had knocked down Wardley twice in their first fight in May, floored him again inside the opening 20 seconds of their rematch.
Wardley’s corner threw in the towel after the second round, sparing him further punishment.
Dubois, who has now won 13 of his 24 fights inside two rounds, showed remarkable resilience after being knocked down twice himself in the first fight.
Wardley, known for his charisma and toughness, praised Dubois post-fight, saying, “Daniel’s a testament to coming up short and coming again, and hopefully I’ll do the same.”
Dubois, who has been eyeing a unification fight, said, “It was an easy night for Daniel. A quick win. He’s ready to fight me in March, right Daniel?”
Dubois responded, “I want to have a rematch, I want to get that belt back and rule my division.”
Dubois praised Wardley in his post-fight interview, calling him “a great warrior,” before adding, “it is my time and my era.”
Wardley, who suffered his second defeat in 23 professional fights, said, “It just didn’t work for me tonight.”
Dubois, who has been active in the heavyweight division, has now won two successive stoppage victories over Wardley.
Wardley’s corner had the towel ready but allowed him to continue, with the ringside doctor examining Wardley’s damaged nose and eye before the ninth round.
Dubois, who has been testing himself against the best competitors, said, “Feeling stronger, feeling just grounded and ready to go out there and do my job.”
What this adds
Dubois retained the WBO heavyweight title he won in Manchester a few months ago, and now eyes a unification fight to claim another of the division’s crowns.
Wardley’s toughness and resilience were on full display, as he absorbed heavy punishment but would not go down, showcasing his incredible fortitude.
Background
Daniel Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title with a second-round TKO over Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena in London.
What's confirmed
- Daniel Dubois has said that he wants a rematch with Filip Hrgovic after he brutally stopped Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena.
- "Fabio is a great boy, coming in for the second time, but it was my time and my era. I had my intentions, bad intentions from the beginning," Dubois said.
- "I have always thrown myself in with the best competitors out there, the best in the business, the biggest, hardest, meanest guys around so, there is no shame in a loss when you're testing yourself against the best," he said. 'My time, my era' - Dubois beats Wardley to retain WBO heavyweight title - reaction A sell-out crowd of 19,000 packed the O2 Arena and made their allegiances clear.
- Wardley was driven back. 10-9 Dubois. (76-74 Dubois) Round 9: The ringside doctor examined Wardley’s damaged nose and eye before the round began.
- Daniel Dubois has wasted no time making his intentions known after his destructive win over Fabio Wardley in their rematch.
- Get the full Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois weigh in results and final staredown ahead of their WBO Heavyweight title fight this Saturday in London, England.
- “Feeling stronger, feeling just grounded and ready to go out there and do my job. You know, another one, get through this and do bigger and better things. ” There couldn’t be a bigger contrast with the charismatic and conversational Wardley, who said fearing a loss is worse than coping with one.
- Boxers Daniel Dubois, left, Fabio Wardley pose during the weigh-in, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, in London, ahead of their WBO heavyweight world title fight.
- Resuming hostilities just five months after their first slugfest, Dubois (24-3, 23 KOs) launched an all-out assault from the first bell and was rewarded with a destructive victory that issued a statement to his rivals in the division.
- Daniel Dubois defeated Fabio Wardley with savage speed and focused aggression to defend the WBO heavyweight world title at the O2 Arena in London; Dubois ended the fight in the second round; the British rivals were rematching after Dubois won an epic brawl in their first fight in May Daniel Dubois smashed Fabio Wardley to defeat in the second round of their world championship rematch at London’s O2 Arena.
- Daniel Dubois scored an emphatic victory in his rematch with Fabio Wardley.
- 'Life on the line' for Dubois & Wardley in rematch Five months after producing one of the most dramatic heavyweight fights of the year, Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley will renew their rivalry in London on Saturday.
What's still developing
- Wardley was saved by the bell, making it back to the stool, but he was beaten comprehensively in the second, with his corner throwing the towel in to spare him more misery.
- Dubois and Wardley were fighting for the second time this year after the two heavyweights collided for the WBO world title back in May, which the latter held.
- The IBF champion exchanged words with Dubois, challenging the WBO belt-holder to a rematch.
- With the WBO heavyweight title on the line, the bout promises another dramatic chapter in a rivalry that has captured the attention of British boxing fans and audiences around the world.
- The former cruiserweight world champion explained that he doubted Wardley several times in the past, only to watch him survive difficult moments and come back stronger.
- As far as I can tell, all Dubois needs to do is the exact same thing as before: stay active and measured with the jab, follow Wardley’s jab back with counter rights and 1-2s, and avoid smothering his own work against the ropes.
- Despite that early success, the real story of the fight was the toughness Wardley showed across the rest of the fight, absorbing a tremendous beating from Dubois.
- Dubois showed extraordinary powers of recovery to lift himself off the canvas twice - the first time after only 10 seconds - and go on to dominate a bruised and battered Wardley, who absorbed so much heavy punishment but would not go down as he displayed his own incredible fortitude.
- Dubois registers a second successive stoppage victory over Wardley, just five months after climbing off the canvas twice to dethrone his British rival in a thrilling 11-round contest in Manchester.
- Wardley's charismatic yet measured personality has made him a popular figure.
- From there, it was a wonder that Wardley was allowed off his stool at all by coach Ben Davison.
- The Manchester bout was all action and started well for Wardley, who dropped the former IBF champion just 10 seconds into the fight.