Dave Allen has considered whether Fabio Wardley is wise to enter an immediate rematch with Daniel Dubois after losing his WBO world title in such brutal fashion.
The Ipswich man was elevated from ‘interim’ to full heavyweight champion last year, not long after his stunning 11th-round stoppage of Joseph Parker in October.
Instead of pursuing a standard first defence, though, Wardley jumped straight back into the deep end and locked horns with the hard-hitting Dubois last May.
The gamble then looked as if it might pay off, as Wardley dropped his man in the first 10 seconds before scoring a second knockdown in round three.
To his immense credit, however, Dubois managed to weather the early storm and established his jab, proving to be the accurate and technical operator.
By round 11, proceedings had become considerably one-sided, and Wardley was ultimately stopped on his feet by referee Howard Foster.
Yet despite enduring such a punishing beating, during which he showed tremendous spirit, Wardley decided to activate his rematch clause just a few days removed from their contest.
Speaking with talkSPORT, though, fellow heavyweight Allen suggested the 31-year-old should not be facing Dubois at London’s O2 Arena on October 17.
“It was one of the best and most brutal heavyweight fights I’ve ever seen. I personally would be overly cautious and say [the rematch has come] too soon [for Wardley].
“If I was Fabio Wardley, I wouldn’t go back in with Daniel Dubois. In the first two rounds of [their first fight], Daniel looked a little bit tentative but was warming into the fight. After a couple of rounds, he was brilliant – and it [became] one-sided.”
Allen went on to commend the bravery of Wardley but maintained his view that an immediate rematch with Dubois is not in his best interest.
