Dubois stops Wardley in two rounds to retain WBO heavyweight title
Daniel Dubois confirmed his position as Britain’s top heavyweight on 17 October 2026 with a second‑round stoppage of Fabio Wardley at London’s O2 Arena. The 29‑year‑old landed a straight right inside the first 20 seconds, sending Wardley to the canvas, and continued his pressure throughout the opening round. Wardley survived the first round but could not fend off another onslaught in the second, prompting his corner to throw in the towel.
The victory marks Dubois’s second successive stoppage of Wardley, coming just five months after the Englishman survived two knock‑downs to win a gritty 11‑round decision in Manchester. This time the champion was dominant from the start, improving his record to 24 wins – 23 by knockout – with three defeats.
“Fabio is a great boy, coming in for the second time, but it was my time and my era,” Dubois said after the fight. “My back was against the wall the first time, this time we just had to go out there and show that we mean business, which is what we did tonight.”
Wardley, 31, suffered the second loss of his 23‑fight career. “I have always thrown myself in with the best competitors out there, the biggest, hardest, meanest guys around, so there is no shame in a loss when you’re testing yourself against the best,” he replied.
A sell‑out crowd of about 19,000 filled the O2 Arena, many cheering for Wardley, whose calm demeanor has made him a fan favourite. He entered the arena with fireworks and a determined look, while Dubois received a mixed reception, marching past the pyrotechnics to the ring with little fanfare. Among the notable attendees were actor Paddy Considine, comedian Rob Beckett, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher and darts champion Luke Littler.
Both fighters combined for 41 knockouts, so few expected the judges to be needed. Wardley’s best chance in the first bout had been an early surge that dropped Dubois, but the tables turned quickly this time. After just 17 seconds, Dubois backed Wardley into a corner and landed the decisive right hand. The arena’s chants for Wardley were silenced as Dubois unleashed a series of heavy combinations, leaving the challenger in trouble at the end of the round.
Trainer Ben Davison, who had been criticised for not stopping the first fight sooner, held a towel as his fighter survived the bell. Concerns about Wardley’s rapid return after a bruising loss in May proved justified; he appeared sluggish, with low hands and telegraphed punches, unable to match the aggression he displayed in Manchester. Cornered again in the second round, Wardley endured another barrage before Davison finally threw in the towel.
Dubois’s recent résumé includes impressive wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua, after a loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2023 and another defeat to Usyk last year. Hrgovic, who entered the ring after the bout, expressed interest in a rematch, though promoter Frank Warren prefers Hrgovic to defend his title in Croatia before any unification clash.
The biggest payday for Dubois could come against the victor of the December showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, a fight that is expected to carry the WBA “super” title. When asked about his next opponent, Dubois said, “Whoever is next in line, really. I’m the champion now, and I want to get some big fights in. At this stage in my career, big money, big fights.”
Wardley’s back‑to‑back defeats are a setback, but his rapid rise from a former recruitment consultant with only four white‑collar bouts before turning professional in 2017 to world heavyweight champion in under a decade remains remarkable. Rather than rebuilding against lower‑ranked opposition after his May loss, he chose an immediate rematch with one of the division’s most powerful punchers. The gamble did not pay off, and after two bruising defeats he may benefit from a period away from the ring.