Reporting note: this article draws on Sky Sports; LodiScore provides the summary and editorial framing.
Fabio Wardley world title route remains open after Dubois stoppage
Fabio Wardley’s world title route remains open after his second-round stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois, his manager Mike Ofo said, but only after a rest. The rematch at The O2 on Saturday ended with Wardley unable to regain the WBO heavyweight title. It was a second straight defeat for the former champion.
Ofo told Sky Sports that Wardley should recover before considering his options. He said Wardley has faced the toughest opponents and expects him to continue at the highest level if he chooses. "I fully expect him to continue competing at the very highest levels of the sport and to win another world title if that is what he chooses to do," Ofo said.
Ofo did not say when Wardley would decide whether to continue. Ofo described Wardley’s run as "a remarkable story of grit, determination and achievement" and said now is the time for rest.
Daniel Dubois ends the rematch in two rounds
Dubois stopped Wardley in the second round at The O2. The source report gives no scorecards because the fight did not reach the judges. Wardley had been trying to regain the WBO world title he previously held.
The defeat is the second consecutive loss to Dubois for Wardley. In the first fight, according to Frank Warren, Wardley had Dubois on the floor twice.
Dubois, the Londoner, beat Wardley inside two rounds on Saturday. The source does not list a specific time for the stoppage. No next opponent or date has been announced for Wardley.
Frank Warren maps a warm-up and a title fight
Promoter Frank Warren intends to steer Wardley back into world title contention. Asked on Sky Sports' Toe 2 Toe podcast whether Wardley remains a threat, Warren said: "He's knocked over guys that have never been knocked over before." He added: "If he catches you, you're in trouble."
Warren said Wardley must rest and weigh up his chances. "I'm sure when he does come back, he'll have, as we call it in the trade, a warm-up fight," Warren said. "But if he does come back, he'll want to fight for a title again. He's a former world champion."
Warren also pointed to Wardley's wins over Joe Parker, Frazer Clarke and Justis Huni. He said Wardley beat Parker when Parker was ranked No 1 in the world, stopped Clarke in the first round of their second fight, and came from behind to knock out Huni. Warren called Wardley "a dangerous man."
Warren said Wardley will be out for a while. "Let him just rest and come back; if he does come back, and we'll see where we go with him," he said. Warren said a warm-up would come first and a title fight would follow if Wardley returns.
Heavyweight titles shift around Usyk vacancy
Oleksandr Usyk's decision to vacate his world titles has opened new opportunities in the division. According to the source, Murat Gassiev holds a WBA title, Agit Kabayel is the WBC champion, and Filip Hrgovic holds the IBF belt. Those are the routes Wardley could target if he returns.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will fight for the WBA 'super' title in Cardiff on December 11. The Fury-Joshua bout is separate from Wardley's immediate plans, which Ofo and Warren described as rest first.
What Wardley faces after the second Dubois loss
Wardley's path back would likely begin with a lower-risk fight, according to Warren's description of a warm-up. Warren said a title fight would follow the warm-up if Wardley returns. The source does not name an opponent, date or venue for any return.
Warren compared Wardley's situation to Lennox Lewis, who lost to Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall before avenging those defeats; Warren did not call Wardley another Lewis. Warren said the next step depends on whether Wardley chooses to come back.
Wardley reached the elite level despite turning professional after a spell as a "white-collar fighter." Warren said Wardley never had a single amateur fight and learnt on the job.
The original report is by skysports.com.