Daniel Dubois to rematch Fabio Wardley after former champ activates rematch clause

Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley look headed for a second installment of their Fight of the Year contender.

Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs) has activated his contractual right to a rematch, and now promoter Queensberry will work toward staging a second bout between the pair in the final quarter of 2026.

"The boxing world knows my character, and Saturday night proved that without a shred of doubt," Wardley told Sky Sports.

"It was a fight for the ages, but I made some mistakes that I will rectify in the rematch. Congratulations to Daniel, but I'm coming for you and my belt."

Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs), the former IBF champion, dethroned Wardley of his WBO heavyweight title this past Saturday at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England, after referee Howard Foster determined in Round 11 that Wardley had taken too much punishment.

Wardley knocked Dubois down in the opening seconds of the contest and had the new champion on the canvas again in Round 3. Dubois, however, recovered to take over in the fight and eventually triumphed via late stoppage in the frontrunner for 2026’s Fight of the Year.

Following the conclusion of a thrilling and hard-fought battle, there was concern about how much damage Wardley had taken against Dubois and whether an immediate rematch would be in his best interests. Much of the second half of their heavyweight affair went in Dubois’ favor, and at points in Rounds 8, 9 and 10, it became uncomfortable viewing.

Wardley’s legs stumbled as he got off his stool to answer the bell in Round 10, but it was still not enough for either the ringside doctor nor referee to call time on the former champ’s spirited effort. It took a right hand from Dubois in Round 11, which drove Wardley onto the ropes, defenseless, for Foster to finally intervene.

A rematch is expected to be heavily anticipated.