Daniel Dubois will defend the WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley at The O2 in London on 17 October. Their first meeting ended with a title change, this rematch gives Wardley a chance to win the belt back. The Ring lists the WBO title as being on the line, and The O2 confirms the date and venue.
The latest rankings tracked by Box-Rank show the two men in different roles depending on the list. Dubois is the WBO champion, while Wardley is a ranked challenger. In The Ring's separate ratings, both appear as numbered heavyweights.
Where they stand before the rematch
| List | Latest month on Box-Rank | Daniel Dubois | Fabio Wardley |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBO heavyweight | August 2026 | Champion | No. 4 |
| The Ring heavyweight | September 2026 | No. 1 | No. 5 |
These are not same-month snapshots: the latest WBO list loaded is from August, while the latest Ring ratings are from September. Open the WBO heavyweight rankings and Ring heavyweight rankings to see each list in its own context. The combined heavyweight rankings place the organizations side by side.
How the first fight changed the picture
Dubois and Wardley first fought on 9 May in Manchester. Wardley put Dubois down twice early, but Dubois recovered and stopped him in the 11th round to take the WBO title. The Ring's rematch announcement recaps the result and confirms that Wardley exercised his immediate rematch clause.
That result explains the current WBO entries: Dubois is champion, and Wardley has to beat him to regain the title. The Ring's list answers a different question. It ranks heavyweights editorially, so Dubois can be WBO champion and No. 1 in The Ring ratings at the same time. Neither position automatically sets the other organization's next list.
What is at stake on 17 October?
If Dubois wins, he keeps the WBO title and adds a successful defense. If Wardley wins, he regains the WBO championship. Either result gives The Ring's ratings panel a new fight to consider, but no new Ring position should be assumed before that list is updated.
The same caution applies to the other organizations. A WBO title result does not automatically change the WBA, WBC or IBF heavyweight rankings. Each organization publishes its own decisions, and its next list may not appear in the same month as another body's update.
What to check after the fight
The result will settle who leaves London with the WBO belt. The next monthly releases will show how the separate ranking bodies assess the rematch and the rest of the division. Follow the heavyweight rankings, then open the Dubois and Wardley profiles to compare their published ranking histories.
For now, the clearest pre-fight snapshot is simple: Dubois holds the WBO title, Wardley is fourth on its August list, and The Ring's September ratings place them first and fifth. The rematch can change those standings, but the organizations will make that decision through their own updates.