Daniel Dubois may already have his next fight lined up following one of the most memorable heavyweight clashes in recent memory against Fabio Wardley.
Dubois stopped Wardley in the 11th round of their contest at Co-Op Live in Manchester to claim the WBO heavyweight title, after an incredible battle where “DDD” rose from two early knockdowns to dominate the later rounds. Wardley displayed immense grit and bravery to stay on his feet as long as he did, but ultimately Dubois prevailed to become a two-time world heavyweight champion, with referee Howard Foster calling a halt to the action.
Speaking after the fight, promoter Frank Warren revealed that the contract includes a rematch clause, suggesting that Dubois and Wardley could face each other again next. “It was amazing. These two guys showed such heart. Great heart, chins, an amazing fight. It was absorbing, it had everything. The best heavyweight fight I’ve ever put on. There is a rematch clause in the contract. Let the dust settle, there are a lot of things happening in the heavyweight division, then we’ll see. Fabio isn’t going away, he’ll be back. He’s a true, brave, gutsy man. I take my hat off to both of them.”
Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk previously stated he wanted to face the winner of the bout, but having already beaten Dubois twice, fans may prefer to see “DDD” take on Wardley in a rematch instead, or defend his belt against top contender Moses Itauma.
Though he would not be blamed for taking time off and opting for a lower-level comeback fight—in fact, most would advise that path—Wardley’s determination, combined with his early success in the fight, could lead him to try to reclaim his title immediately by activating the clause. Ultimately, it will depend on the update fans are most waiting for: a full recovery from a brutal 11-round war.
