We didn't need much convincing. The first one was extraordinary, and now Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley are doing it again, this time at The O2 in London on Saturday 17th October. Frank Warren made it official in the ring at The O2, announcing the rematch ahead of Moses Itauma's fight against Filip Hrgovic. The rematch clause was always there, Warren confirmed it in Manchester the night of the first fight, but the fact it's been activated will have every serious British boxing fan circling the date immediately. ## What We Saw in Manchester Go back to May at the Co-op Live Arena and you understand why this rematch feels so necessary. Dubois was put down inside the opening seconds, then dropped again in the third round, one knee on the canvas, the whole thing hanging in the balance. What followed was one of the most compelling heavyweight fights we've seen in years. Dubois ground through it. Wardley, WBO champion at the time, refused to go down even as his nose bled, his eye swelled, and his body took punishment across ten-plus brutal rounds. Referee Howard Foster finally stepped in early in the 11th. Wardley was still standing. Still refusing. But it was over. The win made Dubois a two-time world heavyweight champion, the WBO belt joining the IBF title he'd previously held, the one he won with his knockout of Anthony Joshua at Wembley. Wardley's reign ended at the first defence. ## Why the Rematch Makes Sense The O2 is a proper venue for this. It was on that same stage last October that Wardley made his mark at world level, coming from behind to stop Joseph Parker in the 11th round and claim the interim WBO title. He was later elevated to full champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt, a striking rise for someone who started out in white-collar boxing. Wardley in the ring after the rematch announcement wasn't making excuses. He was direct about it: "We came into that fight with all the confidence in the world but adjustments need to be made. I've proven I'm adaptable and I can change, and that's what we need to do for this fight." That's the right attitude, and it makes us think this won't just be a rerun. Dubois, for his part, wasn't interested in caution: "Another dominant victory and amazing performance. I can't wait. Let's get it on." He went further, "It's just a war. When you get in the water, you're going to get wet. I love every bit of it." Warren put it plainly: "One of the greatest heavyweight fights we've seen in years." Hard to argue. For those who want to know what's happening across British boxing more broadly, we've been keeping track, [Baumgardner is fighting Turhan on the undercard scene as the Dubois blockbuster nears](/uprise/boxing/baumgardner-to-face-turhan-as-blockbuster-dubois-showdown-nears), and the heavyweight landscape remains busier than it's been in a long time. Meanwhile, [Frank Warren's view on where the bigger domestic and transatlantic fights are heading](/uprise/boxing/warren-thinks-fury-aj-fight-will-go-ahead-in-america) is worth a read if you want the full picture. ## Our Take October 17th at The O2. Book it in. The first fight earned its place in the conversation for best British heavyweight bout in years. If Wardley has genuinely adapted and Dubois comes in the same relentless shape, we could be looking at something even better. We're expecting a war.