Dubois and Wardley hit career-high weights before WBO heavyweight rematch
Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley each weighed in at a career heaviest in London before their 17 October title rematch, with Wardley predicting a knockout win.
WBO heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois and challenger Fabio Wardley each weighed in at a career heaviest at Old Spitalfields Market in London on Friday, 16 October, before their title rematch at the O2 Arena on Saturday, 17 October. Wardley predicted a knockout victory as he prepared to face the man who stopped him in Manchester in May.
Dubois, 29, weighed 253.9 pounds (115kg), while Wardley, 31, came in at 248.3 pounds (112kg). BBC Sport reported that Dubois was more than two pounds heavier than for their first meeting and Wardley more than six pounds heavier. The figures put both fighters above their previous career-high weights going into the WBO title bout.
Wardley targets a different result after May defeat
Their first fight ended at the start of the 11th round when the referee stopped it with Wardley bleeding heavily from the bridge of his nose and his right eye almost closed. Wardley had knocked Dubois down in the first and third rounds, but Dubois recovered to win the title for a second time. The rematch gives Wardley an immediate chance to reverse that result against the same opponent.
At the weigh-in, Wardley said he drew confidence from those knockdowns but needed to make better use of such moments. ‘I need to capitalise on those moments better. I'm ready to put on a cleaner performance,’ he said, according to BBC Sport. Asked for his prediction, he replied: ‘Revenge, Fabio Wardley, knockout win.’ Reuters also reported his description of his approach as ‘seek and destroy’. His prediction concerned Saturday's fight; the reports covered preparations before the bout.
Dubois defends the WBO title at the O2 Arena
Dubois said he knew what to expect from Wardley and was ready to fight. According to Reuters, he also said he needed to get through the bout to reach bigger opportunities. The champion had twice risen from the canvas in Manchester, including after a right hook dropped him in the opening 10 seconds, before stopping Wardley. That earlier recovery sets the context for Wardley's confidence in his power and Dubois's defence of the title.
Promoter Frank Warren said there was no clause requiring a third fight, BBC Sport reported, although he left open the possibility of a trilogy if Wardley wins. For now, the scheduled contest is a rematch between the champion and the challenger who put him down twice before losing their first meeting.
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Sources and context
- Wardley out for revenge in WBO heavyweight title rematch with DuboisChannel NewsAsia; Reuters report
- Dubois vs Wardley 2: British heavyweights weigh in at career heaviest for world-title rematchBBC Sport
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.