Published: 18:00 EDT, 12 October 2026 | Updated: 18:01 EDT, 12 October 2026
Fabio Wardley is embracing a familiar psychological space as he prepares for the second chapter of his heavyweight rivalry with Daniel Dubois. Rather than carrying the heavy burden of being the recognised holder of a world title, Wardley is entirely delighted to step into Saturday’s second slugfest as the white-collar underdog.
This unusual juxtaposition of psychological status gives the unorthodox businessman turned ring disrupter renewed belief that he can pull off a stunning second upset against Dubois, who enters the ring as a formidable two-time champion. Their first epic war for Wardley’s WBO belt delivered high drama from the opening bell, starting with Dubois being knocked down early in the contest before the momentum dramatically shifted, ending with Wardley being battered to a late stoppage in a brutal encounter that left fans and pundits demanding an immediate rematch.
Reflecting on his career trajectory as fight week conversations officially get underway, Wardley offered a candid assessment of his preferred standing within the sport.
"I’ve always been regarded as the underdog since I turned professional," Wardley says, looking ahead to the massive rematch.
Then he adds with a distinct sense of relief: "I love it. Honestly, it’s great. It feels more natural for me. Weightless."
The transition from challenger to champion, and now back to challenger, has provided Wardley with profound clarity regarding the mental toll that holding a prestigious belt can exact on a fighter preparing for elite-level competition.
"Yes, it’s fantastic being a world champion," Wardley acknowledges, reflecting on the period before he surrendered his belt to Dubois. "That and having an undefeated record going in with such a good fighter as Daniel carried a level of weight."
The psychological shift, however, has wiped away that extraneous pressure, leaving the Ipswich-born contender feeling entirely liberated as the fight approaches.
"But now I just feel free. Free of pressure. Talk around the fight has changed. I’m back to being expected to lose with things going bad for me. I’m the challenger and I’m the chaser," he explains.
For Wardley, whose unconventional rise from White Collar boxing to the pinnacle of the heavyweight division has captured the imagination of the British public, returning to the shadows of expectation feels entirely appropriate.
"But for me it’s just… ‘Ah, this is it.’ This is the nice bit I enjoy and still love however many years I’ve been on my way up. It feels great."
The narrative surrounding Wardley’s career has always been defined by resilience, shock victories, and an unwavering willingness to engage in high-risk, high-reward firefights. Few fighters in the modern era of heavyweight boxing have subjected themselves to—and thoroughly enjoyed—such a succession of brutal, crowd-pleasing battles. Yet the central question hanging over this upcoming bout is how adopting this underdog mindset will tangibly improve his chances of overcoming "Dynamite" Daniel Dubois at the second time of asking.
According to Wardley, the answer lies in the mental ease that comes from having nothing to lose and everything to gain.
"A relaxed fighter is a comfortable and confident fighter," he says, outlining his tactical philosophy for the weekend. "That’s always beneficial."
He also points to the bizarre psychological currents that ran through their first encounter, noting how the external expectations shifted dramatically once he captured the WBO belt and entered the ring as the perceived favourite.
"It was funny how the pendulum swung in our first fight. Suddenly everyone was saying, ‘Oh this is the one you’re going to win.’ And I end up losing. Seemingly for me it’s better being underdog."
When this philosophy was relayed to Dubois during the media commitments leading up to the weekend clash, the two-time champion offered an intriguing perspective of his own, demonstrating that the psychological warfare between the two camps runs deeper than simple pre-fight posturing.
With a knowing smile, Dubois responded: "Tell you the truth, I also prefer being the underdog. That’s how we are. Like being backs to the wall and coming out biting. That’s always my mentality. Champion or not."
Two heavyweights, both claiming psychological solace in the underdog label, now stand on the precipice of another violent collision. May the loudest bark win.
