Boxing

Fabio Wardley said that Oleksandr Usyk is a “man of words”.

Published

12 months ago

October 27, 2025

Oleksandr Usyk was urged to keep his word and award the fight to Fabio Wardley.

Undefeated British challenger Wardley won a thrilling fight against Joseph Parker on Saturday night in London and moved one step closer to fighting Usyk.

Wardley won Parker’s interim WBO belt and mandatory full championship status, which Usyk has in his collection.

Usyk can vacate his WBO title if he prefers another fight, but to remain undisputed he must give Wardley a chance.

“I hope he keeps his word and he does,” Wardley told Sky Sports.

“It was ordered by the WBO. I know his team came and said they were watching the fight and were cheerful to face the winner.

“I believe he keeps his word. Hopefully we will see Usyk in 2026.”

The undefeated Usyk sensationally became undisputed in the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions by defeating Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury twice each.

“You can’t underestimate how good he is as a boxer and how much talent he has,” admitted Wardley.

“But at the end of the day, I have faith in myself. I don’t care who he is. The bare bones are that he’s just a man across the ring with two hands, just like me.”

“Any man who steps into the ring, I can beat.”

Wardley knows he would go into the fight with Usyk as a significant underdog.

“I don’t know if that label will ever leave me,” he said. “Between being the underdog, another fight that’s one step too far, and the mental work, those are things I’ll never get over.

“It’s okay. I wear it as a badge of honor, not a negative.”

Wardley stopped Parker in the 11th round of their heavyweight fight on Saturday when the referee stepped in to stop a series of unanswered punches. Parker, who did not fall, later assured he could continue riding.

Wardley defended the referee’s decision: “I think it was right. It could have happened a little earlier. You saw it in the second round – I was throwing punches at him, we waited a long time for the referee to come in.”

“In the 10th set it was a similar scenario again, then in the 11th round. I think the third time the referee thought: ‘I can’t let this happen again’.”

– Wardley shocks Parker with a stoppage at the end, Usyk shouts
– Heavyweight fights we want to see in 2026: Fury-Joshua, more

Wardley credited Parker with this: “Great opponent, substantial heart Joe. Kudos to him for taking that fight. It was a risky fight and he didn’t have to take it. That proves what a fighter he is.”

“He had moments that were very problematic. It ebbed and flowed, he had good moments and I had good moments. It’s always going to be like that at this end of the division, it’s never going to be silky.”

“There were some hurdles, some things to overcome, things he did that we had to figure out. It was all a learning experience.”

Boxing

Tony Bellews Bold KO Prediction for Dubois vs Wardley 2: Yep, I Said It

Published

4 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Tony Bellew's Bold KO Prediction for Dubois vs Wardley 2: "Yep, I Said It"

Tony Bellew is going against the grain for tonight’s Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley rematch.

The pair meet again just five months on from their thrilling first encounter, with Dubois now WBO champion having won the belt from Wardley via eleventh round stoppage.

After surviving two early knockdowns, the Londoner – who is now in his second stint as heavyweight titlist – took over the contest with a solid jab setting up thudding attacks that exhausted Wardley.

Though the Ipswich man stayed on his feet throughout, referee Howard Foster waved it off as the punishment because too much.

It is how the fight ended, and those last few rounds in which Dubois was largely dominating, that make him a strong favourite to retain his belt.

Giving his prediction to the BBCformer cruiserweight world champion Bellew backed Wardley to have success early again, but capitalise fully this time and end it.

“I’m going to be the difference. I am going to back Fabio Wardley by knockout within six rounds. Yep, I said [it]. I’m going for Fab within six.”

Dubois was on the canvas within ten seconds last time out, and took a knee in the third when hurt again.

Bellew has questioned Dubois’ resolve in the past, pointing to his stoppage loss to Joe Joyce as proof that there is a point he can be pushed to that he is not willing to go beyond. Many, however, will look to the first Wardley performance and disagree.

Both men recorded the highest weights of their careers on the scalessuggesting that neither will be changing the gameplan to a more measured affair, rather looking to engage in round 13 from the off tonight at London’s O2.

Boxing

Peter Fury Shares Final Thoughts on Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: I Still Think That

Published

5 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Peter Fury Shares Final Thoughts on Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: "I Still Think That"

Top trainer Peter Fury has offered his expert analysis on the rematch between Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley, believing it is still a 50/50 fight.

Others, meanwhile, will argue that Dubois should be made a considerable favourite, based on how he was able to dismantle Wardley in their first encounter.

In order to do so, the ‘Dynamite’ puncher was compelled to climb off the canvas in rounds one and three, having been put down by blows to the top of his head.

Proceedings then became a little one-sided as Dubois, utilising his fundamentals, managed to score an 11th-round finish with his thudding jab and superior footwork.

Wardley, however, wasted little time before activating the rematch clause in their contract and, in turn, securing the chance to reclaim his WBO title at London’s O2 Arena tomorrow evening.

Many will argue that such a swift turnaround could lead to his downfall while, due to his power and toughness, others would suggest that the 31-year-old is always dangerous, no matter the opponent standing across from him.

As such, coach Fury has told Boxing King Media that, while Dubois is rightfully brimming with confidence, it would be foolish to entirely dismiss Wardley’s attributes.

“I think it’s a great heavyweight fight – Dubois has got heavy hands and a good jab as well, so it’ll be interesting.

“You’ve got to say Wardley’s got it all to do, because the confidence of Dubois will be high. And if Dubois’ super confident, he’s a problem.

“But let’s see – Wardley was able to hurt Dubois early on. I still think that fight is a 50/50 fight.”

If he emerges victorious against Wardley, then Dubois will likely be targeting a unification match with Agit Kabayel or Filip Hrgovic in 2027.

Boxing

Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: Round-by-Round Live Updates and Results

Published

6 hours ago

October 17, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: Round-by-Round Live Updates and Results

Daniel Dubois will face Fabio Wardley in a rematch of a heavyweight slugfest from earlier this year, with Dubois defending the WBO heavyweight title he took from Wardley on that night.

Live coverage will kick off at 2 pm ET, and we’ll have results and updates during the four-fight, main card undercard, then live, round-by-round scoring and updates for the main event itself.

How to watch Dubois vs Wardley 2

Start time: 2:00 pm ET for main card, prelims begin at 11:00 am ET

Streaming: DAZN (Ultimate subscription or Pay-Per-View)

PPV Cost: As a standalone, one-off purchase Pay-Per-View, the price is $59.99 (or £24.99). With DAZN’s Ultimate tier, the show is included as part of your subscription.

Location: O2 Arena – London, England