Dubois stops Wardley in round two to retain WBO heavyweight title

Daniel Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight belt by dominating Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday 17 October 2026. The rematch between the two Britons ended in a second-round stoppage, after Wardley's corner threw in the towel.

The first meeting had left room for suspense: in May, Dubois had to get up from two knockdowns before winning in the eleventh round. This time the champion took the initiative immediately and never let his compatriot settle into his fight.

A straight right hand sent Wardley to the canvas after just 17 seconds. The challenger managed to rise and carry on, but he spent the rest of the first round under pressure from Dubois. The champion kept walking forward and throwing his attacks, while Wardley tried to contain the onslaught.

The break did not shift the balance of power. In the second round, Dubois resumed his offensive against an opponent who could not regain the initiative. Wardley's corner eventually threw in the towel: the stoppage was called at 2 minutes and 21 seconds of the round. Dubois thus wins by technical knockout.

This second successive victory over Wardley gives Dubois a successful first defence of his WBO title. His record now stands at 24 wins, 23 of them by knockout, against three defeats. Wardley now has 20 wins, two defeats and one draw.

The difference between the two fights lies mainly in the start. In the first, Wardley had put Dubois in trouble before fading in the closing rounds. In London, the champion imposed his power from the opening exchanges: the first knockdown left Wardley on the defensive, and he never escaped it.