Dubois Calls Wardley Win Dominant Ahead of Oct. 17 Rematch

Daniel Dubois says his first fight with Fabio Wardley was "another dominant victory" in the making for the rematch, brushing past the fact that Wardley dropped him twice before Dubois stopped him in the eleventh round. The rematch is set for October 17 at the O2 Arena in London, with Dubois defending his WBO heavyweight title against the only man to have him on the canvas in recent memory.

Dubois made the claim during Saturday night's ring announcement of the rematch. Asked about the knockdowns in rounds one and three of the first fight, he said, "When you get in the water, you're going to get wet."

What Actually Happened in the First Dubois-Wardley Fight

Wardley hurt Dubois badly twice in the opening three rounds but could not close the show, and Dubois grew into the fight before stopping him in the eleventh. That gap between "hurt" and "finished" is the whole story of this rematch. Wardley has pointed to the differences between his two fights with Frazer Clarke, plus his outings against Justis Huni and Joseph Parker, as proof he adjusts fight to fight. Whether he can make that adjustment against the man who eventually solved him is the real question heading into October.

Why Dubois Downplaying the Knockdowns Matters

Calling the first fight a dominant win ignores real vulnerability that Wardley exposed early and could target again. Dubois has shown he can take a monster shot and still find a way to win, which is valuable, but leaning on that chin instead of tightening his entries invites another slow start. A jab-first approach and body work late would make Wardley work harder to land clean and pay for it in the championship rounds. If Dubois walks straight into range again without occupying Wardley's hands first, he is betting on recovery rather than avoidance.

For Wardley, landing the big shot again will not be enough. He needs a plan for what happens after he hurts Dubois, since a knockdown also hands the opponent a count to reset. Shorter, measured combinations behind a jab, and pulling the head off center after his lead hook, would protect him from the counter right that eventually ended the first fight. Wardley has less than five months between fights, and an eleven-round stoppage is a lot of punishment to absorb before a championship rematch of this magnitude.

Betting Angle

Markets treated the first meeting as close to a genuine coin flip, and expect a similar split for the rematch given how competitive the first fight played out before Dubois pulled away late. Bettors leaning Wardley are essentially wagering he closes the gap he showed in the opening rounds and finishes what he started, while Dubois backers are banking on the same second-half surge and improved output early. Live-betting angles could carry real value here too. Given how violently round one and round three swung in the first fight, anyone backing Dubois might look for a chance to buy in cheap if Wardley starts fast again.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Dubois vs Wardley rematch?

Daniel Dubois defends his WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley in a rematch scheduled for October 17 at the O2 Arena in London.

Who won the first Dubois vs Wardley fight?

Daniel Dubois won the first fight by stoppage in the eleventh round despite being knocked down twice by Fabio Wardley in rounds one and three.

What did Daniel Dubois say about the knockdowns against Fabio Wardley?

Daniel Dubois downplayed the two knockdowns, calling his win "another dominant victory" and responding to questions about them by saying, "When you get in the water, you're going to get wet."