This Saturday, British heavyweights Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley will face each other for the second time following their incredible battle on May 9 of this year. At stake will be the WBO world title, currently held by Dubois, who won their first encounter by technical knockout in the eleventh round. The event will be promoted by Queensberry Promotions at the O2 Arena in Greenwich and broadcast on DAZN pay-per-view for €19.99. In this article, we will try to explain what adjustments the two fighters could make compared to their clash five months ago, as well as outline, as usual, a possible scenario accompanied by our final prediction.
What Can Daniel Dubois Change?
Of the two fighters stepping into the ring on Saturday night, Daniel Dubois is obviously the one with less incentive to make changes to his game plan. Last time, “DDD” managed to win eight of the ten rounds preceding the technical knockout and looked dominant for long stretches of the fight.
Nevertheless, his performance cannot be considered flawless, as the powerful British heavyweight was knocked down twice, caught by his opponent’s dangerous right hand in the first and third rounds. Dubois might therefore opt for a more cautious and measured start to reduce the risk of getting caught cold, before gradually increasing the pace as the fight progresses.
However, such a tactical choice could prove to be a double-edged sword, because allowing Wardley to organize his offensive moves without putting him under pressure would make it easier for the challenger to implement what he has been working on in the gym over the past few months under Ben Davison’s supervision.
What Can Fabio Wardley Change?
There is no doubt that Wardley needs to make significant adjustments compared to the first fight if he hopes to regain the belt that once belonged to him. Apart from two flashes of brilliance, Fabio struggled enormously under his opponent’s pressure, absorbing a frightening number of heavy shots before the referee finally took pity on him.
Dubois’s most troublesome weapon was his jab, which is why I believe Davison has devised a series of strategies to help Wardley move off the line of the champion’s left hand and quickly counterattack.
One of Wardley’s main problems in the May encounter was his predictability: the Ipswich fighter constantly tried to come over Dubois’s jab with his looping overhand right, a tactic that stopped working after the third round. Increasing the unpredictability of his offense therefore appears crucial.
What Will Happen? Boxe Punch’s Prediction!
Daniel Dubois is a fighter who performs at his best when going full throttle, without restraining his instincts as a natural aggressor. His coaching team understands this perfectly, and it is no coincidence that, in recent years, he has often adopted extremely reckless approaches even against opponents who, in theory, should have encouraged a greater degree of caution.
I believe this scenario is likely to repeat itself, with Dubois coming out all guns blazing this Saturday, looking to trap the challenger against the ropes and hurt him with his heavy punches.
In my opinion, despite the convincing defeat he suffered in their first encounter, Wardley should not be written off. With those two knockdowns, Fabio demonstrated that he can hurt his opponent, and anyone who follows boxing knows that the difference between a knockdown and a knockout can often be a matter of just a few inches.
A Wardley capable of displaying a greater variety of offensive options could therefore prove to be an extremely dangerous obstacle for the champion, who will need to time his retreats perfectly after launching his attacks to avoid unpleasant consequences.
Nevertheless, I believe the tremendous punishment Wardley absorbed five months ago represents a veritable sword of Damocles hanging over him. In my view, he has not given himself enough time to recover from the physical and psychological effects of that hellish war.
If Dubois picks up where he left off in May with his relentless barrage of punches, the challenger could become discouraged. Meanwhile, his corner and the referee, mindful of the strong criticism voiced by fans and boxing insiders five months ago over the late stoppage, might be inclined to end the contest at the first sign of genuine trouble.
I believe Wardley would have given himself a better chance by taking more time to recover and opting for a gentle comeback fight before returning to the biggest stages. His decision to demand an immediate rematch is certainly admirable in terms of courage, but it could ultimately backfire badly.
I therefore predict a knockout victory for Daniel Dubois in the middle rounds of the fight.