WBO Heavyweight Champion Daniel Dubois retained his world title with a devastating second-round stoppage of fellow Briton Fabio Wardley on Saturday night, October 17, 2026, delivering a brief and merciless performance at a packed O2 Arena.
​In a highly anticipated rematch following their punishing 11-round war in May, the 29-year-old champion left no room for doubt this time around. Dubois required just five minutes of action to dismantle the challenger, unleashing an early onslaught that forced Wardley’s corner to throw in the towel.
​The drama began just 17 seconds into the first round when Dubois landed a thunderous right hand to the chin, sending Wardley stumbling backward. Although the referee administered a count, Wardley gamely returned to his feet only to be greeted by a barrage of heavy combinations and rocketing jabs from the champion.
​Dubois pressed his advantage in the second frame, trapping Wardley against the ropes and landing heavy hooks and uppercuts at will. With Wardley absorbing severe punishment and unable to escape the corner, trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel to end the contest.
​Speaking in the ring after the fight, Dubois emphasized his aggressive game plan: “I had bad intentions from the beginning,” said Daniel Dubois. “Our back was against the wall first time. We just had to go out there and show we meant business tonight.”
​Despite taking heavy damage, Wardley was pragmatic about the result: “It’s never fun to lose,” Fabio Wardley reflected. “It is what it is. I’ve always thrown myself in with the biggest, toughest, meanest guys around; there’s no shame in testing yourself against the best. Daniel is testament to coming again, and I’ll come again.”
​Reflecting on the early stoppage, ringside commentator and former world champion Carl Frampton noted the cumulative toll of their prior bout on DAZN; “Wardley looked damaged from the first fight,” Carl Frampton remarked during the broadcast. “Dubois pounced on Wardley from the start, hurt him, and then was a patient predator.”
​With the victory, Dubois moves to 24-3 (23 KOs) and further cements his status among the elite of the heavyweight division.
