Daniel Dubois is already back in training for his WBO heavyweight title rematch with Fabio Wardley, preparing for an opponent who may look considerably different from the one he stopped three months ago.
Insider Darshan Desai reported Friday that October 17 is a possible date for the second fight. The schedule remains unconfirmed.
Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) posted a photo on Instagram with a group of sparring partners assembled for what may be a tougher fight against former WBO champion Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs) than their first meeting on May 9.
The jab wasn’t much of a factor for Wardley in that fight. He loaded up on power shots, swung wildly at times and missed frequently, leaving openings for counters. Wardley still had success with two early knockdowns, but his attacks became easier to read as the rounds progressed.
Wardley is intelligent enough to recognize where he went wrong. Going directly into the second fight gives him a chance to make tactical changes rather than repeat the same approach. He may use his jab more often, shorten his punches and become more selective about when he commits to power shots.
That version of Wardley would give Dubois a different problem to solve. The countering opportunities he found so frequently in May may be harder to find if Wardley fights with greater discipline.
Dubois eventually took control in the second half by landing the cleaner punches and capitalizing on Wardley’s mistakes before stopping him in the 11th round. Starting camp early gives Dubois time to prepare for a more controlled opponent rather than building his strategy around what worked the first time.
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Last Updated on 2026/08/07 at 1:03 PM
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