FABIO WARDLEY and Daniel Dubois are set to run it back after the Ipswich warrior activated his rematch clause following their brutal Manchester bloodbath.
lost his WBO heavyweight title in dramatic fashion last Saturday night after being by .
Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois fought in one of the best heavyweight fights of all time Credit: AP
Wardley lost on the night and has triggered the rematch clause to face Dubois again Credit: AP
But despite suffering a disturbing beatdown in what promoter called the “best heavyweight fight” he has ever staged, Wardley has now triggered the clause for an immediate second showdown.
The 31-year-old stunned Dubois early in the fight, flooring the Londoner twice, including in the first ten seconds of the bout, during a chaotic fight at Manchester’s co-op arena.
Yet Dubois roared back through the pain to produce one of the performances of his career before forcing a late stoppage in a fight already being tipped as an instant heavyweight classic.
And Wardley insists the sequel will be even bigger.
Speaking to Sky Sports , he said: “The boxing world knows my character, and Saturday night proved that without a shred of doubt.
“It was a fight for the ages, but I made some mistakes that I will rectify in the rematch.
“Congratulations to Daniel, but I’m coming for you… and my belt!”
Promoter Warren announced after the fight that there was a rematch clause in place before the opening bell rang in Manchester.
The Home of Boxing in 2026
There's a massive year of boxing ahead!
It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
takes on the king of kickboxing Rico Verhoeven and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown against fellow Brit .
returns to the ring in July to face Kristian Prenga ahead of a potential blockbuster bout against Tyson Fury later in the year.
will be hoping to make a comeback after his defeat to Terence Crawford, while Dave Allen will also be looking to get back to winning ways against Filip Hrgovic.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of , Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
May
- Sat 16 – Dave Allen vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN
- Sat 23 – Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven – WBC title – DAZN
June
- Sat 6 – Fame Fighting v Misfits Boxing – The Sun
- Sat 6 – Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello – WBC super lightweight title – DAZN
- Sat 13 – Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall – DAZN
- Sat 20 – Ryan Garner vs Michael Magnesi – DAZN
- Sat 27 – Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis – DAZN
July
- Sat 25 – Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga – DAZN
*If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue.
And Warren also told SunSport he expected Dubois to return before the end of the year as plans begin to form around the blockbuster rematch.
Warren said: “I think you’ll see Daniel by the end of the year.
“And as for Fabio, he’s got some bad cuts, he needs to rest up, spend some quality time with his family.
“He’s got a newborn daughter. So forget about for a little while. And then when he’s ready, he’ll make his mind up.”
Wardley has ignored the advice to step away, shifting back to a boxing mindset just six days after the world title war.
Despite needing an extended break following such a brutal contest, he is already looking ahead, with the rematch expected in late 2026.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
