Dubois vs Wardley 2: Date, Start Time, How to Watch and Fight Card
Daniel Dubois defends his WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at The O2 in London. It is an immediate rematch of one of the wildest heavyweight fights of the year. On May 9 in Manchester, Wardley knocked Dubois down in Rounds 1 and 3, only for Dubois to get up, take control and stop him at 0:28 of Round 11. The rematch streams on DAZN pay-per-view. US start times haven't been announced yet, so this page covers everything confirmed so far and will be updated as details arrive.
Quick answer: Dubois vs Wardley 2 takes place Saturday, October 17, 2026, at The O2 in London, live on DAZN PPV. Dubois defends the WBO heavyweight title over 12 rounds. DAZN's US page lists the PPV at $59.99; the US start time and main-event ringwalk have not been announced.
Dubois vs Wardley 2 at a glance
| Fight | Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley II |
| Date | Saturday, October 17, 2026 |
| Venue | The O2, Greenwich, London |
| Title | WBO heavyweight championship (Dubois is champion) |
| Distance | 12 rounds |
| Promoter | Queensberry |
| Broadcast | DAZN PPV |
| Doors open | 6:30 p.m. UK time |
| Main card start / ringwalk | To be announced |
| US price | $59.99 on DAZN's US page (as of Sept. 27) |
| Chief support | Bakhodir Jalolov vs Solomon Dacres |
What time does Dubois vs Wardley 2 start in the US?
DAZN has not yet published the broadcast start time or the main-event ringwalk. What is confirmed is that doors at The O2 open at 6:30 p.m. UK time.
On October 17, the UK is still on British Summer Time, so the math for US viewers is simple: subtract 5 hours for Eastern Time and 8 hours for Pacific Time. Doors at 6:30 p.m. in London is 1:30 p.m. ET and 10:30 a.m. PT.
That is not the start of the broadcast, and it is certainly not when the main event begins. Headliners on big London cards walk late in the evening local time, which usually means afternoon or early evening in the US. Wait for DAZN's official schedule before planning your day around it.
How to watch Dubois vs Wardley 2
United States: The fight is on DAZN PPV. DAZN's US page listed the price at $59.99 as of September 27, 2026. Prices and bundles can change, so check DAZN before buying. DAZN also lists the event as included with its Ultimate plan in territories where that tier is offered, so check whether it applies to your account.
Canada and elsewhere: DAZN's pricing and purchase conditions vary by country, and the US price shouldn't be assumed to apply elsewhere. We'll add Canadian pricing and access details here once DAZN confirms them.
Dubois vs Wardley 2 fight card
The announced co-feature is Bakhodir Jalolov vs Solomon Dacres, a heavyweight matchup headlined by the return of Jalolov, a two-time Olympic gold medalist. The rest of the undercard has not been officially announced, and we'll list it once Queensberry or DAZN publishes it.
What's at stake
The WBO belt is the obvious prize, but the rankings picture matters too. The WBO recognizes Dubois as champion, with Wardley No. 4 in its September rankings. The Ring lists Dubois as its No. 1 contender behind champion Oleksandr Usyk, and Wardley at No. 5.
For Dubois, a second win would cement him as one of the top two or three heavyweights of the post-Usyk era and open unification talk. For Wardley, it would mean regaining the title only five months after losing it, and a trilogy would become the obvious next fight. No next opponent is confirmed for either man.
Tale of the tape
| Info | Daniel Dubois | Fabio Wardley |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 23-3 (22 KOs) | 20-1-1 (19 KOs) |
| Age on fight night | 29 | 31 |
| From | Greenwich, London | Ipswich, Suffolk |
| Height | 6'5" (196 cm) | 6'5" (196 cm) |
| Reach | 78" (198 cm) | 78" (198 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
Their listed measurements are identical, so the difference lies in how each uses them. Dubois comes from an amateur background and fights with straighter, more compact mechanics. Wardley came up through white-collar boxing and is more explosive and harder to read.
How the first fight played out
Wardley was making his first defense of the WBO title when the two met at Co-op Live in Manchester. He landed a right hand over Dubois' guard in the opening seconds for the first knockdown and dropped him again in Round 3. Neither knockdown turned into a finish.
From Round 4, Dubois settled in behind the jab and started landing straight rights and short combinations. Wardley's face deteriorated, the ringside doctor checked him repeatedly in the later rounds, and referee Howard Foster stopped the fight at 0:28 of Round 11 with Wardley still on his feet but no longer defending himself adequately. The official result is a TKO, and Wardley was never knocked down.
The CompuBox numbers show how lopsided the fight became:
| Dubois | Wardley | |
|---|---|---|
| Total punches landed/thrown | 179/391 (45.8%) | 97/358 (27.1%) |
| Jabs landed | 92 | 57 |
| Power punches landed | 87 | 40 |
Dubois threw only 33 more punches than Wardley but landed 82 more. The gap came from accuracy and shot selection, not volume, and Dubois won the jab battle as well as the power-punch battle. That is why the fight reads very differently from the two knockdowns alone.
What has changed for the rematch
Wardley triggered his rematch clause within days of the loss. His camp says no fractures or concussion were reported, and that the date would be set once he had recovered.
Both fighters have talked about adjustments. Dubois says he needs to start sharper and more precisely, and he vowed to stop Wardley “in style this time,” per ESPN. Wardley admitted the early knockdowns made him overconfident in the right hand, and he has predicted a finish inside the first four rounds. WBC champion Agit Kabayel gave a slight edge to Dubois but said Wardley's chances rise considerably if he brings back his jab and stops relying only on the right hand.
Keys to the fight
Dubois
- Start behind the jab instead of walking into the right hand
- Stay off the center line and move his head after punching
- Go to the body early (both men landed only 8 body shots in the first fight)
Wardley
- Use the jab to hide the right hand, and shorten the right
- Punch in short bursts, then step off at an angle instead of standing in front of Dubois
- Stay disciplined after landing something big, because he chased the finish in the first fight
Dubois vs Wardley 2 prediction
The first fight showed that Dubois can survive Wardley's best shots, adjust and win the exchanges at range. The statistical gap wasn't a fluke, and Dubois now has a proven game plan.
The danger for that pick is the first four rounds. Wardley has already dropped Dubois twice, and a slow start against a puncher with a 19-KO record could end the night early. If Dubois survives the opening rounds without visiting the canvas, his jab and accuracy should take over, and the most likely outcome is a late stoppage. This is an opinion, not a certainty.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dubois vs Wardley 2?
Saturday, October 17, 2026, at The O2 in London.
What time does Dubois vs Wardley 2 start in the US?
The start time and ringwalk haven't been announced. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. UK time (1:30 p.m. ET, 10:30 a.m. PT), but the main event will come much later.
How much is Dubois vs Wardley 2 on DAZN?
DAZN's US page listed the PPV at $59.99. Pricing outside the US differs.
What title is on the line?
The WBO heavyweight championship, held by Daniel Dubois.
Who won the first Dubois vs Wardley fight?
Dubois, by TKO at 0:28 of Round 11 on May 9, 2026, after being knocked down in Rounds 1 and 3.
Who is on the Dubois vs Wardley 2 undercard?
Bakhodir Jalolov vs Solomon Dacres is the announced chief support. The rest of the card is still to be announced.