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Dubois Retains WBO Heavyweight Title With TKO Over Wardley
Confirmed
In Short: Daniel Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title with a second-round TKO over Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena in London.
Daniel Dubois retained his 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 the first round, continued his assault in the second round, leading to the referee stopping the fight.
Wardley, who had shown incredible toughness in their first fight in May, was unable to withstand Dubois's relentless attack this time.
Dubois, who won the WBO title in Manchester a few months ago, is now eyeing a unification fight to claim another of the division’s crowns.
Dubois expressed his desire for a rematch with Filip Hrgovic and also challenged the IBF champion to a fight.
Dubois praised Wardley as a great warrior but emphasized that it was his time and era.
Wardley acknowledged Dubois's resilience and said he would look to Dubois for inspiration to come back stronger.
Dubois's victory was a statement to his rivals in the heavyweight division, showcasing his dominance and readiness for bigger fights.
Dubois's comeback from being knocked down twice in the first round was a testament to his fighting spirit and determination.
Wardley's corner threw in the towel to spare him further punishment, ending the fight in the second round.
Dubois's victory was a clear statement of intent, setting the stage for potential unification fights and bigger challenges in the future.
What this adds
Dubois's victory was a quick and decisive win, ending the fight in the second round, unlike the more prolonged battle in their first encounter.
What's confirmed
- "Whoever is next in line, really. I'm the champion now, and I want to get some big fights in. At this stage in my career, big money, big fights."
- "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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- '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
- Dubois claimed the belt at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester in a thrilling encounter, which saw DDD knocked down inside the first 16 seconds and then again in the third round before roaring back to record his own stoppage victory in the 10th.
- 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.
- The IBF champion exchanged words with Dubois, challenging the WBO belt-holder to a rematch.
- 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.
- 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.
- “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.
- 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.
- “It just didn’t work for me tonight,” Wardley said.
- 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.