Five months after one of the most dramatic heavyweight fights of the year, Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley will renew their rivalry in London on Saturday — and the boxing world is split on who takes the rematch.
Dubois, 29, makes the first defence of his WBO world title after climbing off the canvas twice to stop Wardley in the 11th round of their thrilling encounter in Manchester in May. Ipswich’s Wardley, 31, suffered the first defeat of his professional career that night but immediately activated his rematch clause in a bid to reclaim his world title.
Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley face off (Credits: BBC Sport)
41 Knockouts Between Them
The numbers promise fireworks. With 41 knockouts between them in 43 combined victories, another explosive contest could be in store at the O2 Arena. The question hanging over the rematch: can Dubois repeat his victory, or will Wardley gain revenge and become a two-time world champion?
BBC Sport spoke to figures from across the boxing world to get their predictions — and most of them are backing the champion to do it again.
The Experts’ Verdicts
Former super-featherweight world champion Barry Jones picked Dubois, but warned the fight will be thrilling while it lasts: “Wardley can knock out any person at any time, that’s what took him from no experience on the white-collar scene to a world champion. I think it will be the same result but Dubois might win a lot earlier this time… I think it will be Dubois inside five rounds.”
Jones also flagged Dubois’s one vulnerability: “Dubois’ issue has never been power, strength or bravery. It’s when he has to think and can’t find an answer and the panic occurs. When he was knocked down, his corner played a great role to keep him calm and he knew what he had to do — hit Wardley clean and often.”
Not everyone agrees. One pundit gave Wardley a 60-40 edge, arguing that his “resilience, work rate and ability to find a way through tough moments could make the difference.” And boxing content creator Liam Gough of BBC Sounds’ Punch Perfect went the other way entirely: “I struggle to see what Fabio Wardley can do differently this time to change the outcome… Dubois will look to impose himself immediately, put Wardley under pressure and take control of the fight early. Don’t blink — I don’t think this one is going to last very long.”
Credit to the Challenger
Everyone involved agrees on one thing: Wardley deserves respect for taking this fight. “Credit to Wardley for going back in there after taking some serious, serious damage and still standing — unbelievable tenacity from the man,” one pundit said. “And he can hurt Dubois — we saw that in the first minute or so of the fight.”
The smart money, though, is on another Dubois victory. The champion showed last time that he can take Wardley’s best shots, get up, and finish the job. Five months on, with the belt around his waist and supreme confidence, expect an even more aggressive Dubois from the opening bell.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.