Dubois Retains WBO Heavyweight Title in Round 2 Stoppage of Wardley

Daniel Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title by stopping Fabio Wardley in Round 2 in London on Saturday, October 17, 2026. The victory marked the second time Dubois had beaten Wardley in five months.

Dubois dropped Wardley with a right hand in the first half of Round 1. Wardley’s coach, Ben Davison, threw in the towel in Round 2 to stop the fight. Dubois said of his performance and dominance: “Are you not entertained?”

Daniel Dubois’s record is reported as 24-3 with 23 KOs. Fabio Wardley’s record is reported as 20-2-1 with 19 KOs. Dubois was under the lights for about 20 minutes total during the fight.

Wardley addressed the outcome of the bout. Wardley said: “The best in the business, the biggest, hardest, meanest guys around so, there is no shame in a loss when you’re testing yourself against the best.”

Dubois spoke about Wardley and his own era. Dubois said: “Fabio is a great boy, coming in for the second time, but it was my time and my era. I had my intentions, bad intentions from the beginning.”

Dubois previously defeated Anthony Joshua in 2024.

IBF champion Filip Hrgovic faced off with Dubois after the fight.

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren said unification bouts await his champions next year. WBC champion Agit Kabayel is scheduled to defend his title in Germany in November 2026.

What do you make of Dubois’s second stoppage of Wardley, and what should the WBO heavyweight title picture look like next?

Sources: ESPN