Fabio Wardley Activates Rematch Clause After Defeat to Daniel Dubois in Heavyweight Thriller

Posted : 15 May 2026

Fabio Wardley has confirmeaxd that he has activated the rematch clause following his dramatic loss to WBO heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in Manchester.

The British heavyweight suffered the first defeat of his professional career on Saturday night after Dubois produced a late comeback to secure an 11th-round stoppage victory in a thrilling contest. The bout immediately drew widespread praise, with many describing it as one of the best heavyweight fights in recent years.

Wardley made a strong start and dropped Dubois twice during the early rounds, appearing in control at several moments of the fight. However, the champion gradually regained momentum as the contest became increasingly physical and intense.

By the later rounds, Wardley was visibly struggling with serious facial damage, including a badly injured nose and significant swelling around one eye. The referee eventually stopped the fight in the 11th round after Dubois unleashed another sustained attack.

Following the bout, promoter Frank Warren confirmed that both fighters had agreed to a rematch clause before the fight, paving the way for a second showdown between the British rivals.

Speaking after the defeat, Wardley insisted he would return stronger and learn from the mistakes he made during the contest. He said the fight demonstrated his resilience and promised to chase another opportunity to reclaim the world title.

Wardley’s rise to the top level of heavyweight boxing has been one of the sport’s most remarkable recent stories. The 31-year-old moved from white-collar boxing to world title level in less than a decade before suffering his first professional setback.

For Dubois, the victory marked another major milestone in his career as he reclaimed his place among boxing’s elite heavyweights. The 28-year-old is now a two-time world champion after previously holding the IBF title before losing it to Oleksandr Usyk in 2025.

Dubois now owns 23 victories from 26 professional fights, with his only defeats coming against Usyk and fellow British heavyweight Joe Joyce. His latest victory further strengthens his position in the heavyweight division ahead of a highly anticipated rematch with Wardley.

Fabio Wardley Activates Rematch Clause After Defeat to Daniel Dubois in Heavyweight Thriller

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