Daniel Dubois has wasted no time making his intentions known after his destructive win over Fabio Wardley in their high-stakes rematch, immediately turning his attention toward the upper echelons of the heavyweight division and a potential world title unification showdown.
The fierce rivals went head-to-head at The O2 Arena in London, meeting just five months on from their memorable first encounter when Dubois ultimately defeated Wardley by an eleventh-round technical knockout to capture the coveted WBO heavyweight championship. That initial bout had tested both men over the championship distance, showcasing their resilience, conditioning, and punching power in a thrilling domestic dust-up that captured the imagination of the British boxing public and the wider international scene.
However, the rematch proved to be a vastly different and much more conclusive affair at London’s famous entertainment venue. It was a significantly quicker conclusion this time around, with the fighter affectionately known as ‘DDD’ dropping Wardley inside the opening twenty seconds of the opening contest. The explosive start caught Wardley and the capacity crowd entirely off guard, setting a violent tone for the remainder of the short-lived battle. Rather than allowing his opponent time to recover, Dubois maintained a relentless onslaught, applying suffocating pressure and landing heavy artillery from all angles. The referee and onlookers could only watch as Dubois earned a definitive second-round knockout victory, successfully defending his WBO belt in emphatic fashion and leaving no doubt as to who held the upper hand in the rivalry.
Dubois has already named his next target following his triumphant night in the English capital, revealing during his post-fight press conference that he now wants a unification showdown with IBF champion Filip Hrgovic. Having firmly established his dominance under the WBO banner, the British powerhouse made it crystal clear that his ambitions extend far beyond defending a single strap. He wants to collect every major belt in the division and cement his legacy as the undisputed ruler of heavyweight boxing.
Reflecting on his ambitions to clean out the weight class and avenge previous career milestones or secure further legacy fights, Dubois stated passionately during the media briefing that he is ready for the biggest challenges the sport has to offer.
“I want to have a rematch with him and get that belt. I want to rule the division. Another win and another scalp. I’m the champion now and I want some big fights now,” Dubois declared, signaling his readiness to step back into the ring against the division’s elite without hesitation.
The history between Dubois and Hrgovic adds an extra layer of intrigue and personal motivation to a potential matchup. The two heavyweights have already shared a ring back in June 2024, when Dubois claimed an eighth-round stoppage victory after the tough Croatian competitor could no longer continue due to severe cuts opening up above both of his eyes. That grueling encounter tested Dubois’s mettle and tactical discipline against a dangerous, undefeated contender, ultimately serving as a major stepping stone in his professional career trajectory.
Following that victory over Hrgovic, ‘DDD’ went on to capture the IBF championship itself, though he would subsequently lose that prestigious title during a challenging encounter against unified great Oleksandr Usyk. The heavyweight landscape has shifted significantly since then. After the Ukrainian superstar vacated his IBF belt earlier this year, Hrgovic seized the opportunity to reclaim the crown through a dramatic and hard-fought victory over Moses Itauma in August, positioning himself once again at the pinnacle of the division.
This sequence of events means that Dubois and Hrgovic could now meet in a high-profile rematch in 2027, setting up what promises to be one of the most anticipated collisions in modern heavyweight boxing. Nevertheless, the path to the ring may require some patience and navigation of mandatory obligations. Hrgovic may first have to deal with his mandatory challenger, Frank Sanchez, with that anticipated mandatory defense potentially taking place in Croatia early next year, meaning Dubois will have to monitor the division’s landscape closely as the sanctioning bodies sort out the mandatory landscape.
