Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: Records, Profiles & Form
Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley meet again on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at The O2 in London with the WBO heavyweight championship on the line. Dubois enters the rematch as champion after stopping Wardley in the 11th round of their first fight in Manchester. Wardley enters with a different status: he is chasing the title he lost in his first professional defeat. Their records, backgrounds and recent fights provide important context for the second meeting.
Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley: The essential profiles
| Category | Daniel Dubois | Fabio Wardley |
|---|---|---|
| Professional record | 23-3-0 | 20-1-1 |
| KO/TKO wins | 22 | 19 |
| Age on fight night | 29 | 31 |
| From | Greenwich, London | Ipswich, Suffolk |
| Height | 6'5" (196 cm) | 6'5" (196 cm) |
| Reach* | 78 in (198 cm) | 78 in (198 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Trainers | Don Charles | Robert Hodgins and Ben Davison |
| Promoter | Queensberry Promotions | Queensberry Promotions |
| WBO status | Champion | No. 4 contender |
| The Ring ranking | No. 1 | No. 5 |
*Height and reach figures are based on the fighters' Queensberry profiles. Measurements can vary between boxing databases; The Ring currently lists different reach figures for both fighters.
According to their Queensberry fighter profiles, Dubois and Wardley are both listed at 6'5" with a 78-inch reach. Those promotional measurements suggest that neither fighter holds a clear advantage in height or reach, although measurements vary between boxing databases.
The more meaningful differences come from their backgrounds and styles. Dubois developed through a traditional amateur background before building his professional style around a heavy jab, straight punches and physically assertive pressure.
Wardley came through the white-collar boxing circuit before turning professional and developed a less conventional style built around explosive attacks and changes of rhythm.
Daniel Dubois: Record, background and recent fights
Dubois is 23-3 with 22 wins by KO or TKO. His professional career has included world-title opportunities, major wins and three stoppage defeats.
His six most recent fights are:
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| May 9, 2026 | Fabio Wardley | TKO 11, win |
| July 19, 2025 | Oleksandr Usyk | KO 5, loss |
| September 21, 2024 | Anthony Joshua | KO 5, win |
| June 1, 2024 | Filip Hrgovic | TKO 8, win |
| December 23, 2023 | Jarrell Miller | TKO 10, win |
| August 26, 2023 | Oleksandr Usyk | KO 9, loss |
That sequence is important because Dubois did not arrive at the first Wardley fight from an unbeaten run. His previous bout was his second loss to Usyk, while his three fights before that produced stoppage victories over Joshua, Hrgovic and Miller.
Dubois' career has therefore combined major wins with difficult setbacks. His first professional defeat came against Joe Joyce, who stopped him in the 10th round on November 28, 2020. His other two defeats came against Usyk.
All three of Dubois' professional losses have come by stoppage.
What defines Dubois as a heavyweight?
Dubois' statistical advantage against Wardley was not simply power. It was his ability to land cleanly once he settled into the fight.
In the first meeting, Dubois landed 179 of 391 total punches, compared with 97 of 358 for Wardley. His total accuracy was 45.8%, compared with 27.1% for Wardley.
He also held the advantage in both major punch categories:
- Jabs landed: 92-57
- Power punches landed: 87-40
- Total accuracy: 45.8%-27.1%
Those numbers provide context for his profile heading into the rematch. Dubois can create damage through sustained, technically structured offense rather than relying exclusively on one-punch power.
At the same time, his record contains a clear vulnerability. Dubois has been knocked down during his career, including twice by Wardley in their first meeting.
That makes his opening rounds particularly important in the rematch.
Fabio Wardley: Record, background and recent fights
Wardley enters the rematch with a 20-1-1 record and 19 KO/TKO victories.
His five most recent fights are:
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| May 9, 2026 | Daniel Dubois | TKO 11, loss |
| October 25, 2025 | Joseph Parker | TKO 11, win |
| June 7, 2025 | Justis Huni | KO 10, win |
| October 12, 2024 | Frazer Clarke II | TKO 1, win |
| March 31, 2024 | Frazer Clarke | Split draw, 12 rounds |
That run shows why Wardley's career cannot be reduced to the first Dubois fight.
Against Clarke, he went 12 rounds in a split draw. In the rematch, Wardley stopped Clarke in the opening round.
Against Huni, Wardley scored a late stoppage after entering the 10th round behind on all three official scorecards. The scores were 89-82, 89-82 and 88-83.
He then stopped Joseph Parker in Round 11 before challenging Dubois.
These fights established a recurring feature of Wardley's career: he can remain dangerous deep into fights and has repeatedly produced late finishes.
What defines Wardley as a heavyweight?
Wardley's defining weapon is his explosive right hand, which produced both knockdowns against Dubois and his late knockout of Justis Huni.
The first Dubois fight also showed the limitations of relying too heavily on that weapon.
Wardley landed 40 of 149 power punches, or 26.8%. Dubois landed 87 of 180 for 48.3%.
Wardley also landed 57 jabs compared with 92 for Dubois.
The issue, therefore, is not whether Wardley can hurt Dubois. The first fight answered that question. The bigger question is whether he can create those opportunities without allowing Dubois to establish the longer, more accurate sequences that eventually changed the fight.
How their career paths are different
The two fighters reached the top level through different routes.
Dubois developed through a traditional amateur boxing background before facing a succession of major heavyweight opponents as a professional.
Wardley's route was less conventional. He entered professional boxing after white-collar experience and developed through fights in which his power, athleticism and ability to change momentum became central parts of his style.
Their records also tell different stories.
Dubois has faced a deeper sequence of opponents who have held or challenged for major heavyweight titles.
Wardley had never lost professionally before facing Dubois.
That distinction matters heading into the rematch. Dubois is defending a title after recovering from an early crisis in the first fight, while Wardley is attempting to remove the only defeat from his professional record.
The first fight changed both trajectories
Before May 2026, Wardley was the WBO heavyweight champion and had never lost as a professional.
After 11 rounds in Manchester, Dubois held the title and Wardley had the first defeat of his career.
The fight also provided unusually clear information about both men.
Wardley demonstrated that his power could immediately disrupt Dubois. He knocked him down twice and created the most dangerous moments of the fight early.
Dubois demonstrated that he could recover, establish his jab and gradually take control. He eventually stopped Wardley at 0:28 of Round 11 while Wardley remained on his feet.
The official result was Dubois by TKO, Round 11, 0:28.
Wardley was never knocked down in the fight.
What has to change in the rematch?
For Dubois, the priority is clear: avoid allowing Wardley to dictate the opening minutes again.
His jab was one of the biggest differences in the first fight, and his ability to build pressure behind it eventually produced a substantial accuracy advantage.
For Wardley, the adjustments are more extensive.
He has already shown that the right hand can hurt Dubois. The challenge is what happens before and after that moment. Wardley acknowledged that the early knockdowns encouraged him to chase the finishing shot rather than maintain the broader plan.
The rematch therefore presents a different tactical test. Wardley needs to make the right hand part of a complete attack rather than treating it as the entire attack.
That means rebuilding the jab, shortening the right hand, varying his targets and creating exits after combinations.
Dubois, meanwhile, needs to use the information from the first fight without becoming overconfident about his ability to recover from another early knockdown.
Dubois vs Wardley 2: Career comparison
| Category | Daniel Dubois | Fabio Wardley |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 23-3 | 20-1-1 |
| KO/TKO wins | 22 | 19 |
| Current status | WBO champion | WBO No. 4 |
| First fight result | TKO 11 win | TKO 11 loss |
| First career loss | Joe Joyce, TKO 10 (2020) | Daniel Dubois, TKO 11 (2026) |
| Recent major win | Fabio Wardley | Joseph Parker |
| Major recent loss | Oleksandr Usyk | Daniel Dubois |
| Height | 6'5" | 6'5" |
| Reach* | 78" | 78" |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Main offensive identity | Jab, straight punches, pressure | Explosive right hand, rhythm changes |
*Reach figures based on the fighters' Queensberry profiles; other boxing databases may list different measurements.
The numbers show two heavyweight punchers with similar listed physical dimensions but very different career narratives.
Dubois has accumulated a deeper sequence of opponents who have held or challenged for major heavyweight titles, while Wardley built his career around overcoming difficult situations and has already demonstrated that he can seriously hurt Dubois.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Daniel Dubois' record?
Daniel Dubois is 23-3 as a professional, with 22 victories by KO or TKO.
What is Fabio Wardley's record?
Fabio Wardley is 20-1-1, with 19 wins by KO or TKO. His only professional defeat came against Dubois in May 2026.
Who gave Daniel Dubois his first professional loss?
Joe Joyce gave Dubois his first professional defeat, stopping him in the 10th round on November 28, 2020.
How tall are Dubois and Wardley?
Both fighters are listed by their Queensberry profiles at 6'5" (196 cm), with a 78-inch (198 cm) reach. Other boxing databases can list different reach measurements.
Who won the first Dubois vs Wardley fight?
Daniel Dubois defeated Fabio Wardley by TKO at 0:28 of Round 11 on May 9, 2026, in Manchester.
Was Fabio Wardley knocked down in the first fight?
No. Wardley was never knocked down. He knocked Dubois down twice, in Rounds 1 and 3.
When is Dubois vs Wardley 2?
The rematch is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026, at The O2 in London for the WBO heavyweight championship.
A FIGHT OF THE YEAR CONTENDER
Dubois and Wardley arrive at the rematch with very different career narratives.
Dubois is the champion because he survived the most dangerous moments of the first fight and then established a substantial advantage in accuracy, jab work and power-punch output.
Wardley remains a serious threat because the first fight also demonstrated that he can hurt Dubois early.
Their records reinforce that contrast. Dubois has faced a deeper sequence of opponents who have held or challenged for major heavyweight titles, while Wardley's unbeaten run before May 2026 included late stoppages over Huni and Parker and a first-round rematch win over Clarke.
The rematch will show whether Dubois can impose the structure that eventually won him the first fight from the opening bell — or whether Wardley can use the lessons from his first professional defeat to turn his early success into a complete performance.