I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a heavyweight championship fight that was more entertaining and competitive than Daniel Dubois’ TKO victory over Fabio Wardley in May. When you consider Wardley dropped Dubois twice, yet took a massive amount of damage en route to losing his WBO heavyweight title, it’s a bit surprising we’re seeing the rematch happen in the same calendar year — let alone just months later. This is old school in the best way and the stakes and bar will be set high. Let’s talk boxing.
Dubois vs. Wardley 2 Key Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Main event | Daniel Dubois (c) vs. Fabio Wardley |
| Title | WBO heavyweight |
| Date | Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 |
| Venue | The O2, London |
| Coverage start | 7 p.m. BST / 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT |
| Main-event ring walks (est.) | 10:30 p.m. BST / 5:30 p.m. ET |
| Broadcast | DAZN pay-per-view |
Dubois vs. Wardley 2 takes place Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at The O2 in London. Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) defends the WBOheavyweight title against Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs).
Coverage begins at 7 p.m. BST, which is 2 p.m. ET and 11 a.m. PT. Main-event ring walks are expected around 10:30 p.m. BST (5:30 p.m. ET), though that depends on how long the undercard runs.
What Happened in the First Fight?
Referee Howard Foster stopped the first fight at the start of the 11th round on May 9 at Co-op Live in Manchester. It was Wardley’s first professional loss.
How Much Is the Dubois vs. Wardley 2 PPV?
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| US PPV | $59.99 |
| UK PPV | £24.99 |
| DAZN Ultimate | Included |
While there are a few strong boxing cards coming our way to close out the year, this one is extraordinarily top heavy. Dubois-Wardley II are carrying this card in a way that might not sit well with some fans. That’s especially the case because this one is a pay-per-view on DAZN and quite honestly, the main event is the only fight on the schedule I’d pay to see.
As it is, like many, I signed up for the Ultimate DAZN plan and this one is included in the subscription. Thus it stings a little less because it doesn’t require me to spend new money to watch.
Dubois vs. Wardley 2 Final Card
| Bout | Weight | Est. Ring Walk (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley | WBO heavyweight title | 5:30 p.m. |
| Louie O’Doherty vs. Michael Gomez Jr. | British and Commonwealth lightweight titles | 4:30 p.m. |
| Bakhodir Jalolov vs. Solomon Dacres | Heavyweight | 3:10 p.m. |
Complaints aside, the two undercard fights worth a mention will see Bakhodir Jalolov take on Solomon Dacres. This could be a matchup of heavyweights ready to take the next step toward title contention. Both men are 32 and Dacres rebounded from a stoppage loss to David Adeleye with a unanimous-decision win over Vladyslav Sirenko on the Oleksandr Usyk-Dubois card in July 2025, so he’s been out of the ring for more than a year. That could be bad news against Jalolov. The undefeated Uzbekistan native is 17-0 with 15 KOs. We might see a memorable KO in that one.
Jared Anderson was scheduled to face Dacres on that May card, but Anderson withdrew with a torn biceps and the fight was scrapped.
Also, Louie O’Doherty faces Michael Gomez Jr. for the British and Commonwealth lightweight titles. Expect fans at The O2 to be fired up for that one as O’Doherty and Gomez battle for regional supremacy. I’ll have ring walk info and results later on during fight week.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com