Dubois-Wardley rematch targeted for October in Manchester

Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley are closing in on an October rematch for the WBO heavyweight title, with Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena again in the frame to stage the fight. An official announcement on the date and venue is expected in the coming days, although promoter Frank Warren has said the final details are still being worked through.

Dubois stopped Wardley in the 11th round on May 9 at Co-op Live to take the WBO belt in one of the most punishing and exciting heavyweight fights of the year. Wardley, who was making the first defence of his title, activated a rematch clause in the original contract and is set to go straight back in with Dubois around six months after suffering his first professional defeat.

October 17 is understood to be the working date, with Co-op Live currently expected to host the rematch, but Warren has not yet confirmed either point. “It will be in October,” Warren said during a media roundtable on Wednesday. “We’ve just got to sort out the venue. We’re working on the venue at the moment. We’re looking at a couple of venues at the moment.

“I believe we’ll be in a position within the next week or so to announce it and that’s going to be a cracker of a fight again. What a good fight that was first time around.”

The first fight swung sharply in both directions before Dubois took control. Wardley dropped Dubois inside the first 10 seconds and put him down again in the third round, appearing to have the former IBF titleholder in serious trouble before Dubois steadied himself, forced his way back into the fight and eventually broke Wardley down for the stoppage.

The damage Wardley absorbed, particularly around his nose and right eye, led many observers to question whether he should have been withdrawn earlier. Wardley nevertheless moved quickly to enforce his contractual right to a second fight, keeping him immediately in the world-title picture despite the severity of the defeat.

Jones exits Dubois camp

Dubois will enter the rematch build-up with another change behind the scenes after Sam Jones announced that he is no longer part of the champion’s team. “I have decided to leave my position from Team Dubois. I wish Dan and the team nothing but the best going forward,” Jones wrote on social media this week.

Jones had been a prominent figure around Dubois over the past year and was involved in public exchanges with Wardley’s manager, Michael Ofo, during the promotion of the first fight. He has also been critical of Wardley taking the immediate rematch, arguing that the decision is not wise despite the financial incentive and predicting Dubois would win more quickly in a second meeting.

Ofo has pushed back against the idea that the rematch represents a “free shot” for Wardley, maintaining that Wardley does not fear Dubois and can correct the mistakes that cost him in Manchester. That disagreement has kept tension between the camps alive while the promotional side of the rematch is being finalised.

Team changes have not been unusual for Dubois. He left trainer Don Charles to work with Tony Sims in late 2025, then reunited with Charles earlier this year before facing Wardley.

The immediate focus now is on finalising the venue and confirming the October date. Once Warren and the organisers complete those arrangements, Dubois and Wardley will move into a short turnaround for a second heavyweight title fight shaped by the violence, controversy and unresolved arguments from their first meeting.