Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley Set to Run It Back

For WBO Heavyweight World Championship At The O2!

The return bout comes less than six months after one of the most memorable heavyweight contests of 2026. Dubois and Wardley first met on May 9 at Co-op Live in Manchester, where Wardley produced a sensational start and twice put Dubois on the canvas. The first knockdown came in the opening round, with Wardley immediately demonstrating the explosive power that had carried him through an unbeaten professional career. He struck again in the third round, sending Dubois down on one knee and appearing to have seized control of the contest.

Dubois, however, refused to allow the early setbacks to determine the outcome. The London heavyweight regrouped, settled into his boxing, and gradually turned the fight in his favor. As the middle rounds unfolded, Dubois began landing with greater consistency and authority, applying pressure and forcing Wardley into increasingly difficult exchanges. What began as a fast and furious contest increasingly became a test of durability, composure and physical strength.

Wardley continued to fight back despite absorbing considerable punishment. His face became visibly marked as Dubois' sustained attack began to take its toll, but the challenger remained dangerous and refused to surrender. Dubois continued pressing forward into the championship rounds, steadily breaking down his opponent until referee Howard Foster intervened 28 seconds into the 11th round, awarding Dubois a technical knockout victory.

The victory earned Dubois the WBO heavyweight championship and made him a two-time heavyweight world champion. It also handed Wardley the first defeat of his professional career. Following the contest, Wardley exercised the contractual rematch clause, giving the former champion an immediate opportunity to reclaim the belt and avenge the only loss on his professional record.

Queensberry subsequently confirmed that the rematch would take place later in 2026, with the promotion ultimately setting October 17 as the date and The O2 as the venue. The first fight had already established the rivalry as one of the most compelling matchups in the heavyweight division, and the circumstances surrounding the rematch have only intensified the anticipation.

For Dubois, the assignment is to prove that his comeback victory in Manchester was not a one-off performance. The champion demonstrated tremendous resilience by surviving two knockdowns before taking command of the fight, and he will now attempt to make the necessary adjustments to avoid allowing Wardley the same opportunities in the opening rounds. Dubois enters the rematch with the confidence of having already weathered Wardley's most dangerous attack and ultimately stopped him.

Wardley, meanwhile, returns with the clearest possible objective: win back the WBO championship. His performance in the opening rounds of the first fight demonstrated that he possesses the power to seriously hurt Dubois, but he was unable to maintain that early momentum as the contest progressed. The rematch gives Wardley the opportunity to apply the lessons learned from his first professional defeat and produce a different result on the biggest stage of his career.

The first meeting also established a fascinating tactical question for the return. Wardley proved that he can hurt Dubois early, while Dubois demonstrated that he can absorb Wardley's best shots and gradually impose himself as the fight develops. Whether Wardley can sustain his early explosiveness over a longer period or Dubois can once again survive the danger and take control will be central to the outcome of the championship rematch.

The setting adds another layer to the occasion. The O2 has hosted some of British boxing's biggest nights and will provide the backdrop for a heavyweight world championship fight between two of the country's leading heavyweights. With Dubois defending his title and Wardley attempting to reclaim it, the stakes could hardly be higher.

The event's “Run It Back” branding reflects the unfinished business between the two fighters, while the description of the first contest as a Fight of the Year contender has helped fuel expectations for another explosive encounter. Unlike their first meeting, however, both men now know exactly what the other is capable of. Dubois knows he can be dropped by Wardley's power, while Wardley knows firsthand the punishment and sustained pressure the champion can bring once he finds his rhythm.

Dubois enters the rematch with a professional record of 23-3 with 22 knockouts, while Wardley is 20-1-1 with 19 knockouts. Their records underline the defining characteristic of this rivalry: neither man is accustomed to fighting without the threat of a decisive finish.

On October 17, that power will once again be placed on the line, this time with the WBO World Heavyweight Championship at stake. Dubois will seek to defend the crown he won in Manchester and establish himself as the division's champion, while Wardley will attempt to turn a devastating first defeat into a career-defining comeback.

The first fight produced knockdowns, momentum swings, sustained punishment and an 11th-round stoppage. The rematch promises another chapter in a rivalry that has already delivered one of the year's most dramatic heavyweight battles.

Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley II takes place Saturday, October 17, 2026, at The O2 in London, with the WBO World Heavyweight Championship on the line. Queensberry Promotions is promoting the event, with DAZN attached as broadcaster.  Tickets are scheduled to go on general sale through AXS on Friday, September 4. The complete card is expected to be announced soon.

Queensberry, time and time again, delivers a debut to a champion journey for richly talented young fighters and provides an unrivalled platform for them to showcase their ability to the widest possible audience via a major broadcast collaboration and an exceptional digital portfolio.

Fight promotions are regularly staged, servicing the requirements of novice prospects, contenders, title challengers and champions. Boxers are given every opportunity to build a following and maximize their potential.

The wall facing the entrance to the Queensberry headquarters bears the words ‘This is where the magic happens’ because, for decades, it has been the location where the biggest fights have been hatched and matched, where the biggest shows have been plotted and where the best fighters arrive to sign promotional terms for Frank Warren to guide their careers.

It is always about the fighters - with the key being development - but also about the sport, the business of boxing and conjuring up magical nights for the fans and making the fights they want to see.

The experience of Queensberry and the tried and trusted model for creating champions is unparalleled in the sport of boxing. The expertise of International Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren has been employed for some 45 years in the professional ranks building some of the biggest stars and navigating them to world champion status.

Frank specializes in taking young fighters right from debut and implementing his knowhow to pick the right fights at the right time and therefore ensuring the boxer is given every opportunity to maximize his or her potential.

Queensberry is currently in the position of being the world’s premier promotional organization, having spent many years building talent and putting in the foundations to ensure prolonged success. The company currently boasts a number of world champions, multiple world title contenders, numerous title-holders and the finest crop of young future stars anywhere in the world.

Queensberry fighters have been given the opportunity to shine on the major global stage both at home and abroad, under the Queensberry banner.

About Frank Warren

In an era spanning over 35 years, Hall of Fame boxing Promoter and Manager Frank Warren has worked with some of the biggest fighters in boxing history. Hamed, Bruno, Tyson, Calzaghe, Benn, Collins, Eubank, Khan and Hatton are some of the iconic names he has promoted during his career.

BoxNation

In 2011 Frank launched the innovative direct to consumer TV model, BoxNation as part of a vision that saw the sports TV market evolving from the traditional reliance on major satellite and cable broadcasters.

Since then BoxNation has gone from strength to strength becoming the UK’s fastest growing independent subscription broadcaster in the process and showcasing the biggest fights from at home and abroad, along the way.

Through Queensberry Promotions and BoxNation, the future of British boxing has never looked in such great shape.

About TNT Sports

BT Sport is a group of pay television sports channels provided by BT Consumer; a division of BT Group in the United Kingdom and Ireland that was launched on 1 August 2013. The channels are based at the former International Broadcast Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

TNT Sports is the new name for BT Sport.

About DAZN

Welcome to DAZN, the global sports streaming platform that transcends boundaries and redefines the way fans experience their favorite sports. With availability in over 200 territories, DAZN ensures that sports enthusiasts around the world can immerse themselves in the thrill of live and on-demand content, on any device, at the touch of a button.

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