Following the brutal and brilliant heavyweight affair between Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley, the British duo look set to run it back and rematch before the end of 2026. Now, Tyson Fury has offered his thoughts on a proposed second encounter.
Dubois became a two-time heavyweight world champion in spectacular fashion, recovering from two early knockdowns to take control and dish out a beating to the reigning WBO ruler, as Wardley was stopped on his feet in round 11.
Yet, despite the bruising nature of his first career defeat, Wardley and his team have decided to trigger their rematch clause in order to secure an immediate world title shot, with that event anticipated to take place in the winter.
Reflecting on the fight, fellow British heavyweight Fury declared his belief that Wardley can bounce back, but noted the impact that a stoppage defeat can have on a fighter, in an interview with FurociTV.
“Having your first knockout loss has a real effect. If you look at Deontay Wilder, for instance, he was 44-0 when I knocked him out and he hasn’t recovered from it even six years later.
“So, it can do a lot to a man’s mind. But, I don’t think that Fabio is the same, mentally, as Wilder, anyway, so I think that he can come back from that for sure.”
However, ‘The Gypsy King’ went on to admit that he ‘would not advise’ Wardley to pursue the rematch, believing that a similar beatdown could ‘end him’.
“I wouldn’t advise it, but he could go back in for the rematch with Dubois – a fight that could completely and utterly end you, if it’s as brutal again, which it has to be.
“No disrespect to the boys, they are great fighting men, but there is not a lot of avoiding punches in there, it’s just mainly giving and taking it.”
Fury is set to return to action in August, expected to participate in a ‘tune-up’ bout ahead of a long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua in November.
