Daniel Dubois Stops Fabio Wardley in Round Two to Retain WBO Heavyweight Title in London Rematch
Dubois floored Wardley inside 20 seconds and finished him in round two at The O2, setting up talk of an IBF unification with Filip Hrgovic.
Daniel Dubois left no doubt this time. The WBO heavyweight champion stopped Fabio Wardley in the second round of their rematch at The O2 Arena in London on Saturday, 17 October, five months after an 11-round war between the pair in Manchester.
A fast and brutal finish
Dubois made his intentions clear almost immediately. He sent Wardley to the canvas about 17 seconds into the opening round, and although the challenger beat the count, he never found his footing. Dubois kept the pressure on into the second, and at 2:21 of the round Wardley's corner threw in the towel as referee Steve Gray moved in to stop the fight.
It was a very different contest from their first meeting on 9 May, when Wardley put Dubois down before the Londoner rallied to win by 11th-round stoppage and take the WBO belt. The rematch lasted barely five minutes.
The win lifts Dubois to 24 wins and three defeats, with 23 victories inside the distance, according to The Ring. His three losses came against Joe Joyce and twice against Oleksandr Usyk, and this was another sign that he has rebuilt his career at the top of the division.
Questions for Wardley
For Wardley, the defeat is a heavy setback. The Ipswich fighter had built his rise on punching power, including a dramatic late stoppage of Joseph Parker in 2025 that earned him an interim title. Two losses to Dubois in the same year leave his future at the top level in question.
Hrgovic steps into the picture
The next move for Dubois may already be in view. IBF champion Filip Hrgovic entered the ring after the fight to confront him. Dubois stopped the Croatian in 2024, and Hrgovic has made no secret of wanting revenge. A rematch would now be a unification fight between two belt holders, which gives both camps a strong reason to make it happen.
Undercard results
Uzbekistan's Olympic champion Bakhodir Jalolov beat Britain's Solomon Dacres on points over 10 rounds, dropping him in the fifth on the way to wide scores including 99-91 and 99-90. At lightweight, Louie O'Doherty and Michael Gomez Jr fought to a majority draw, which meant O'Doherty kept his British and Commonwealth titles. Further down the bill, Tony Curtis Jr stopped Kerim Agius in four rounds after two knockdowns, and Nelson Birchall beat Levi Giles in the seventh.
Key takeaways
- Daniel Dubois retained the WBO heavyweight title by stopping Fabio Wardley at 2:21 of round two.
- Wardley was knocked down about 17 seconds into the fight and never recovered.
- Dubois had won the first fight in May by 11th-round stoppage after being put down.
- IBF champion Filip Hrgovic confronted Dubois in the ring, raising the prospect of a unification rematch.
- Bakhodir Jalolov outpointed Solomon Dacres on the undercard.
FAQ Q: Who won Dubois vs Wardley 2? A: Daniel Dubois won by technical knockout in round two at The O2 Arena in London on 17 October 2026, retaining his WBO heavyweight title.
Q: What happened in the first Dubois vs Wardley fight? A: In May 2026 in Manchester, Dubois got up from the canvas to stop Wardley in the 11th round and win the WBO title.
Q: Who could Daniel Dubois fight next? A: IBF champion Filip Hrgovic, whom Dubois beat in 2024, confronted him after the fight, and a unification rematch is being discussed.
Sources: The Ring, Bad Left Hook, Pro Boxing Fans, NBC News / AP