Brief

Dubois defends WBO heavyweight title against Wardley at London O2

The champion Dubois meets Wardley in a second bout, with the main event slated for around 10.30 pm BST and the full card streamed on DAZN.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 17 Oct 2026 20:12:07 GMT

Daniel Dubois will defend his WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley in a rematch at London’s O2 Arena tonight, according to both the Guardian’s live blog and the Independent’s preview.

What happened

The event is scheduled to begin at 7 pm BST, with the main‑event ring walks expected around 10.30 pm BST. The undercard features a series of British‑level bouts, including Bakhodir Jalolov versus Solomon Dacres, Louie O’Doherty against Michael Gomez Jr, and several lightweight and featherweight contests.

What the reports add

The Guardian notes that the first Dubois‑Wardley encounter ended with Dubois stopping Wardley in the 11th round after being knocked down early, describing the fight as a “slugfest”. It also mentions that promoter Frank Warren called the original bout “like a Rocky film”. The Independent adds that the winner will likely pursue a unification fight, with Dubois targeting opponents such as Kabayel, Hrgović and Gassiev. Both outlets confirm that the live event can be watched on DAZN pay‑per‑view or via the DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.

What was said

Frank Warren, quoted by the Guardian, said the first fight was “like a Rocky film”. The Independent does not provide additional quotations.

How it came about

Felo News previously reported on the buildup to the rematch in a piece titled Dubois taunts Wardley ahead of O2 heavyweight rematch, noting Dubois’s claim that Wardley’s punches felt “like a baby” and his ambition to move toward a unification bout. Earlier coverage also outlined Dubois’s six‑fight roadmap to an undisputed heavyweight crown (Dubois sets six‑fight roadmap to undisputed heavyweight crown) and highlighted promoter Frank Warren’s role in arranging the fight (Frank Warren promotes third heavyweight title fight of 2026 at the O2).

Key facts

Daniel Dubois defends his WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena in London. (independent.co.uk)
The main‑event ring walks are expected around 10.30 pm BST. (independent.co.uk)
The undercard includes bouts such as Bakhodir Jalolov vs Solomon Dacres and Louie O’Doherty vs Michael Gomez Jr. (independent.co.uk)
The event can be watched live on DAZN pay‑per‑view or via the DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription. (independent.co.uk)
The first Dubois‑Wardley fight ended with Dubois stopping Wardley in the 11th round after early knockdowns. (theguardian.com)