Wardley triggers rematch clause following Dubois heavyweight defeat

Fabio Wardley has officially triggered a rematch clause to face WBO heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in an immediate bout, following his defeat in Manchester on Saturday. The decision comes after Dubois survived two early knockdowns to secure an 11th-round stoppage, retaining his championship status and marking Wardley’s first professional loss.

Both fighters are signed to Queensberry Promotions, and promoter Frank Warren confirmed the activation of the clause in the aftermath of the contest. Wardley, 31, had previously won 19 of his 20 professional bouts by stoppage, rising from the white-collar scene to world champion within a decade. The defeat ends that streak, with the referee stepping in to halt the fight due to a badly damaged nose and heavily swollen eye sustained by the challenger.

Dubois, 28, now holds the WBO belt after previously holding the IBF title, which he lost to Oleksandr Usyk in July 2025. The victory marks a return to the top of the heavyweight division for the 28-year-old, who has won 23 of his 26 professional fights. His record includes two losses to Usyk and one defeat against Joe Joyce.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Wardley acknowledged the errors that contributed to the stoppage but pledged to rectify them in the upcoming rematch. "The boxing world knows my character, and Saturday night proved that without a shred of doubt," Wardley said. "It was a fight for the ages, but I made some mistakes that I will rectify in the rematch. Congratulations to Daniel, but I'm coming for you and my belt."

Warren, a veteran of 45 years in the sport, described the bout as the best heavyweight fight he has promoted. While the clause has been activated for an immediate return, the specific date and venue for the rematch remain unspecified in the source material.