Specific venue and October date targeted for Daniel Dubois-Fabio Wardley rematch

The contracted rematch between Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley will take place in October, promoter Frank Warren confirmed on Thursday. It has since been reported that October 17 and the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester are the specific date and venue being targeted.

Dubois, 23-3 (22 KOs), scored a dramatic, thrilling, and brutal 11th-round victory over Wardley in the same arena in May, taking the WBO heavyweight title in the process.

It was so brutal, in fact, that several observers wondered if Wardley, 20-1-1 (19 KOs), would be in position to go through with the sequel this year. 

"I haven't spoke to him for a few weeks," Warren said when asked how Wardley was recuperating. "Look, he called [the rematch] on. It was up to him to call on the rematch and his team called it on and it's on.

"That's it. They called it on. So they must fancy it. Otherwise, why would they call the rematch on?

"And Daniel was ready to go. I mean, he was up here a couple of days ago and he looks as fit as a butcher's dog."

Dubois, 28, rebounded from a second loss to Oleksandr Usyk, in July 2025, to hand Wardley the first defeat of his career. The former IBF beltholder had to twice get up from the canvas to do so as he steadily broke down the resistance of Wardley.

Wardley, 31, and his team have promised they can make the adjustments to gain revenge. Dubois, however, is also predicting victory. "I expect to be a lot better, an improved version of myself now I'm champion," he said.

"That's going to be a cracker of a fight again," Warren said of the return. "What a good fight that was first time round."