Daniel Dubois Dominates Fabio Wardley in a Rematch
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
October 18th, 2026 (London, UK)–In the pre-fight stare-down before their rematch began at O2 Arena in Greenwich, United Kingdom, on Saturday night, October 17, 2026, Daniel Dubois looked into the eyes and face of Fabio Wardley and saw mental scars. Wardley, 20-2-1 with 19 knockouts, Ipswich, United Kingdom, the former World Boxing Organisation World Heavyweight champion, was physically in the ring but not mentally present. Dubois, 24-3 with 23 knockouts, Greenwich, London, United Kingdom, the current WBO World Heavyweight champion, stopped Wardley at 2:21 in the second round in the rematch.
The rematch made Wardley a knight to forget. Dubois landed a right cross shortly after the bout began, which dropped Wardley, who got up immediately and continued to get hit in a lopsided first round for Dubois. Wardley looked like a frightened rabbit. The rematch was difficult to watch, truly a memorable night to forget in British boxing history.
Dubois landed 60 of 119 punches thrown, a success landing rate over 50 percent in only five minutes and 21 seconds, before referee Steve Gray stopped the bout. By the time Wardley’s corner threw in the towel, Wardley had taken horrific punishment in his own corner as the bout ended, with Dubois landing nonstop power shots to the head with evil intent. Wardley landed only four punches during the bout, a seemingly mentally defeated man. Dubois began throwing power shots like he was George Foreman on a mission taking target practice, and Wardley acting like he did not want to be there, about ready to fall for good like Gerry Cooney did against George Foreman. Dubois had a power punch landing accuracy of 66 percent, or two of every three power punches thrown.
The British boxing scene pushed for this rematch. It proved a mega mistake. It appeared that, despite any claimed new preparations, Wardley did not recover mentally from the punishing, brutal beating he took in the first bout. Wardley absorbed punishment in the pocket with no game plan and wasn’t mentally present in the ring or in the moment. This being the case, this reporter feels Wardley would be best served by retirement, as this rematch bout made it clearly evident, one way or another, Wardley simply had no interest in being there. Fabio Wardley versus Dubois II proved to be a WBO world heavyweight title rematch too soon. It was the worst heavyweight title show since Tommy Morrison versus Michael Bentt ended in the first round several decades ago.
Dubois tested Wardley’s resolve immediately in the rematch, and discovered there was nothing coming back at him the second time around. Dubois’ discovery was believable when one reflects on the sheer brutality of their first encounter, and how rapidly Dubois closed the show in the rematch. Once Dubois discovered Wardley was an empty shell, there was no sense prolonging the inevitable. Challengers will now line up to eat Wardley alive to match the Dubois template and fight Wardley to the death, if he decides to return to the ring. Prominent boxing heavyweights Derek Chisora and Filip Hrgovic have urged Wardley to hang up his gloves for good based on his rematch performance.
The two preliminary bouts to the main event fared better. 12-0-1 Louie O’Doherty of Halstead, Essex, United Kingdom, retained his BBB of C British and Commonwealth Boxing Council Lightweight titles with a 12-round majority draw against 23-2-1 challenger Michael Gomez Jr. of Manchester, United Kingdom. 18-0 Uzbekistan southpaw heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov won a 10-round decision over 10-3 Solomon Dacres of Warley, West Midlands, United Kingdom.
O2 Arena Greenwich Undercard Results
13-0 prospect Nelson Birchall stopped Levi Giles in the seventh round of their super featherweight contest.
15-0 prospect Tony Curtis Jr. stopped Kerim Agius in the fourth round of their super flyweight contest.
6-0 prospect Leighton Birchall outpointed Alejandro Chazaro over six rounds in their featherweight contest.
Debuting super bantamweight prospect Manny Safari stopped 1-122-1 journeyman Jake Pollard in the fifth round.
3-0 prospect Fawas Aborode stopped Rashid Omal in the fourth round of their lightweight contest.
5-0 prospect Adam Olaniyan stopped Dan Garber in the second round of their heavyweight contest.
4-0 prospect Zayn Ahmed stopped 1-51 journeyman Kasey Bradnum in the first round of their super featherweight contest.
3-0 prospect Aaron Noriega stopped Leonardo Baez in the fourth round of their featherweight contest.
4-0 middleweight prospect Issiah Allen opened the card and won a four rounds points decision over 6-41-2 journeyman Jensen Irving.
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