Dubois and Wardley Register Career-Heavy Weights for WBO Title Rematch

Daniel Dubois weighed a career-high 253.9 pounds for his Saturday WBO heavyweight title defense against Fabio Wardley.

Daniel Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) weighed in at a career-heavy 253.9 pounds on Friday in east London for his WBO heavyweight title defense. His opponent, Fabio Wardley (20-1-1, 19 KOs), also reached a personal record of 248.3 pounds. This marks an increase for Dubois from the 251.7 pounds he carried during their first encounter in May, while Wardley typically competes near the 242-pound mark.

The Saturday rematch at Old Spitalfields Market follows an 11th-round stoppage victory for Dubois in their initial meeting. During that first bout, Wardley recorded knockdowns in both the first and third rounds. Heading into the second fight, Wardley’s manager, Michael Ofo, has requested a stronger referee, citing concerns over Dubois using rabbit shots, head-leading, and tactics intended to open cuts.

Future implications for the winner include potential 2027 bouts against WBC champion Agit Kabayel or the victor of the December clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Promoter Frank Warren indicated that unification bouts remain the priority for the winner of this weekend's contest.