Eddie Hearn believes Fabio Wardley made the right decision by activating his rematch clause for his second fight with Daniel Dubois, even after the punishment he suffered in their first meeting.

Hearn admitted that Wardley will enter the rematch as an underdog, but the opportunity to fight for the heavyweight championship cannot be passed up. The Matchroom promoter also compared the situation to Anthony Joshua taking a rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr. after losing his first fight in 2019.

Hearn said critics often tell fighters to rebuild first after a bad loss, but argued that heavyweight boxing can be changed by a single performance. He added that he still wouldn’t rule Wardley out completely, even though Dubois was seen as the stronger favorite this time.

Matchroom promoter Hearn said Wardley deserved credit for taking the rematch rather than rebuilding with easier fights first. He compared the situation to when Anthony Joshua faced Andy Ruiz Jr again. right after his disheartening defeat in 2019, saying his heavyweight title shot was too vital to give up.

“The right thing. I think he did the right thing. I think it’s basic to criticize, and I’ve done it before, when I think about the classic example of AJ, especially after the Ruiz fight,” Hearn told Boxing News.

“Everyone said: don’t take a rematch, fight first, do this, do that. You have a chance to win the world heavyweight championship on a plate in your hand.

“Fabio is the underdog in this fight, but he can win. He can win this fight, and if you have a chance to win this fight, in my opinion you have to take it.”

Hearn said Wardley would need to make changes after the first fight, particularly with his jab, but added the Ipswich heavyweight was still hazardous due to his willingness to fight aggressively under pressure.

“Daniel, he’s the large favorite in this fight this time, but I wouldn’t rule out Fabio Wardley in this fight,” Hearn said.

“He has to adapt. Usyk said it today. Where was that punch? But what he is doing is amazing. He is always alive and always hazardous.”

Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most vital fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.

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Last updated: 21/05/2026 at 12:23

The World Boxing Association has added another “world championship” to Saturday’s Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven fight in Giza despite growing uncertainty over whether some secondary boxing belts could soon disappear altogether.

The WBA officially elevated the unflappable Rolando “Rolly” Romero to the title of world super champion this week, before certifying Shakhram Giyasov vs. Jack Catterall for the vacant WBA welterweight title at the event in Egypt.

The decision means that another world champion will be crowned at an event headlined by Usyk defending his WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles against Verhoeven.

The WBA said the ruling was supported by regulations that allow the Championships Committee and the WBA President to designate Super Champions in “exceptional circumstances” and “in the best interests of the sport”.

Expansion of the WBA belt

It’s no secret how World Boxing News feels about the continued expansion of the WBA title after years of promises of reform, revocations, interim belts, second-tier champions and repeated vows to simplify the system.

This latest move seems even stranger given the mounting pressure around proposed amendments to the Ali Act in the United States.

Oscar De La Hoya’s appearance at a Senate hearing on boxing reform all but confirmed that TKO’s structural change efforts are gaining grave momentum behind the scenes.

One key proposal would limit sanctioning authorities to one recognized world champion per division.

If adopted, the WBA’s long-standing multi-district structure – which includes super, regular, interim and gold titles – would immediately come under pressure.

This puts Saturday’s newly confirmed Giyasov vs. Catterall title fight in an odd situation before a punch has even been thrown.

Whoever leaves Giza with the WBA belt could theoretically see the championship stripped away almost as quickly as it arrived if proposed reforms accelerate.

Giyasova vs. Catteralla title

The decision also came after years of confusion surrounding the WBA welterweight picture.

As WBN previously reported, Giyasov spent nearly three years waiting for his mandatory opportunity while Romero chased bigger commercial fights featuring names like Manny Pacquiao, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney.

Now Romero has moved up, and Giyasov and Catterall are suddenly fighting for a different version of the title.

Broader frustration around the WBA structure is nothing up-to-date.

WBN recently reported how the organization’s number of recognized champions had grown to 42 across 18 divisions, despite earlier phases of reforms aimed at reducing belt clutter.

This expansion has repeatedly caused confusion among players and fans alike.

One of the clearest examples occurred when Kubrat Pulev was widely recognized as the first Bulgarian heavyweight world champion, despite only holding his second WBA “Regular” belt, while Usyk remained the recognized ruler of the division.

For many boxing fans, this moment encapsulated the growing disunity over championship labels in the newfangled era.

Now, another belt has been added to the pile in Giza, even as the entire titular boxing structure is heading for its biggest overhaul in decades.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.

Warren pointed to Dubois’ performance in the war with Wardley on May 9 as evidence that he has matured under pressure and is now better prepared for another meeting with the undefeated Ukrainian.

“I would love to see Daniel with him again. He’s grown mentally. Physically he’s there, but mentally he’s grown there and I’d like to see that fight again, I really would,” Warren said to Heavenly sports.

“You know it’s going to be a fight while it lasts.”

Warren believes the punishment and adversity Dubois faced against Wardley could facilitate him more than ever with easier victories.

“It was a tough fight, but I truly believe this fight will benefit him even more.
Warren said.

“He grew mentally during this fight. He put in the work. He focused on it, and his determination worked for him.”

Team Dubois also believes that the difference in previous fights with Usyk was down to experience and composure rather than physical ability. Mohammed Ali, head of boxing performance analysis at Dubois, said Usyk’s serene approach was a decisive factor in their previous meetings.

“Usyk, as you know, has a very scientific approach, and his approach was very serene, very composed, he didn’t talk too much, even though there was a lot going on in the background.

“The experience that Usyk has over Daniel is everything. The experience that he has and that’s exactly what was portrayed that night is the difference in how Usyk handled it.

“However, if it came to a third fight, I can guarantee you the approach would be the same as Fabio or even better,” Warren said.

Usyk has already stopped Dubois twice, so many fans will need some convincing before they treat the trilogy fight as a competition. Still, Warren clearly believes that the Battle of Wardley changed Dubois in a way that could carry over into the third fight.