Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: Heavyweight rivals go head-to-head for WBO title at the O2 Arena just five months on from Dynamite's stoppage victory

Updated: 17:27 EDT, 17 October 2026 Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog as Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley face off in a highly-anticipated rematch. Frampton: 'A dream partnership'Carl Frampton, former world champion, BBC Radio 5 Live:I think that they are a dream partnership, Daniel Dubois and trainer Don Charles.I think Don was really important in getting Daniel to change, and telling him to get back on the jab. In my opinion Daniel Dubois has the best jab in the heavyweight division. It’s a ram-rod, it’s a hurtful shot, and he uses it really well. I don’t think Fabio can deal with it and his own jab is non-existent.Maybe that was because of the success (Wardley) had early when he knocked him down, and thought all I need to do is throw this right hand again. (Fabio Wardley) neglected his own jab after those knockdowns.What the odds sayHere's what our friends at SkyBet are saying about a potential result tonight:Dubois win: 1/4Draw: 25/1Wardley win: 11/4Pretty convincing...'Just five rounds'Charlotte Daly at the O2 Arena:Atmosphere is building backstage. You can feel the tension in the air. Managers from both teams have been out into the area to completely formalities and gauge the atmosphere. Micheal Ofo from team Wardley is telling me he needs 'just five rounds' to get the job done… Derek Chisora has just strolled into the area after polishing off his dinner at Gaucho. No doubt he’ll have a vested interest in this one ahead of his own return to the ring in December.'Wardley ignores the noise'Charlotte Daly at the O2 Arena:Wardley disagrees with the suggestion that his team failed him. He regards the people around him as family and trusts them to put his welfare first, even when the decisions they make are questioned from the outside.He is equally dismissive of the noise surrounding the timing of the rematch, arguing that those watching from the outside cannot know the full picture of his recovery.His position is that he and his team are best placed to judge the damage he sustained and whether he is ready to fight again.Charles: 'It is a duty to recall the pain'Don Charles, Daniel Dubois' trainer, speaking to Daily Mail Sport:Fabio is made of something else. He is made of steel, that man, the amount of punishment he took and kept taking. But it is our duty to recall those entries, to remind him of the pain he felt last May in Manchester.As soon as that bell rings, our duty is to recall that pain. If he has forgotten it, Daniel will remind him in that ring: 'This is what you were feeling.He is a human being like you and I. Once he starts feeling that unbearable pain, the rest is up to him and his team, and what they do under the referee's supervision.'Hrgovic is here'Charlotte Daly at the O2 Arena:Filip Hrgovic is in the house. Fresh off the back of his victory over Moses Itauma.He will also have an eye on the winner of this evening’s clash between Dubois and Wardley.More brutal than the firstJeff certainly thinks so.We saw these two go blow for blow in properly brutal fashion in the spring and I don't see any reason why we should expect different today.Wardley has nothing to lose. Dubois has plenty to lose.They are two big punchers and beat the living daylight out of each other before.Here's a little preview from Jeff.Wardley: 'I can right the wrongs'Fabio Wardley, speaking at the final press conference:Surprisingly, I feel great. It's one of those things, especially when you suffer a loss, it's never part of the plan. It's never what you want, but I think the thought of it is actually worse than the reality.Especially with myself and my resume and the way I go about things of wanting to put myself in the biggest fights out there, put myself in the biggest test. I want to be in there with the best guys so that does put you in a situation for jeopardy, for things to go wrong and yeah, it did, but I can right those wrongs.What's changed since last time?Charlotte spoke to Wardley in the week about how he's improved since last time out.He'll need to be better - that's evident. But how has he gone about doing that?Find out by watching below!Dubois: 'Looking at bigger and better things'Daniel Dubois, speaking in the final press conference:Feeling stronger, feeling grounded and ready to go out there and do my job. Another one. Get through this and do bigger and better things.I'm ready to go out there and do my job. I take every fight serious. Every challenge 100 per cent. So I'm just zoned in to go out there and perform.The rise of British heavyweight boxingWe have Charlotte Daly and Jeff Powell MBE at the O2 tonight for coverage, and I wanted to share this piece Jeff wrote in the week with you.Jeff has been there, done it, got the wardrobe, and everyone else’s wardrobe too. He’s seen more boxing than anyone on this planet, I’m absolutely sure of it.He wrote this week about the previous dominance of US heavyweight boxing and how the UK has now taken over. And it’s spot on - just look at the scene.If you want to read more, click below. Well worth the read.Dynamite Daniel in the house