Fabio Wardley Admits He Was a ‘Victim of His Own Success’ in Daniel Dubois Defeat

Fabio Wardley has admitted that his fast start against Daniel Dubois worked against him as the heavyweight rivals prepare for their October rematch. Wardley knocked Dubois down twice in their first fight at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena in May, but failed to finish the contest and was stopped in the 11th round. The result gave Dubois the WBO world title and handed Wardley the first defeat of his professional career.

Wardley said he had two clear chances to end the fight but became too comfortable after hurting Dubois early. The British heavyweight has now activated his rematch clause and will meet Dubois again on October 17 at The O2 in London, with Wardley promising a different response after what happened in their first fight.

Fabio Wardley Admits He Became Too Comfortable Against Daniel Dubois

Wardley dropped Dubois only 10 seconds into the fight. He scored another knockdown in the third round. Those moments gave Wardley chances to press for a stoppage, but he did not make the most of them.

"On two occasions I was literally a few seconds away from winning the fight," Wardley said. "I could have capitalised on those moments better, could have done a bit more with them, could have pressed the action a bit better."

The 31-year-old said his early success changed how he approached the fight.

"I became a victim of my own success," he admitted. "I got too comfortable with the fact that I caught him in the first 10 seconds of the fight."

Wardley expected another opening instead of forcing the finish. Dubois survived the early pressure, recovered and eventually stopped Wardley in the 11th round.

Daniel Dubois Survived Two Knockdowns Before Winning the Fight

Daniel Dubois recovered after the two knockdowns and changed the direction of the contest. Wardley acknowledged that Dubois handled the pressure and continued fighting.

"To his credit, he turned it around. He weathered the storm. He picked himself back up and he powered through," Wardley said.

Wardley also rejected claims that referee Howard Foster should have stopped the fight earlier because of the damage to his face. Wardley had swelling, cuts and blood during the later rounds, but he said he remained able to continue.

"I would have protested anything before the final bell because I was still on my feet," Wardley said. "A lot of people read a lot into the aesthetic of some bruising, a cut and some blood mixed with sweat."

The Daniel Dubois fight therefore continued until the 11th round, when Dubois stopped Wardley and claimed the WBO world title.

Fabio Wardley Confirms October Rematch With Daniel Dubois

Fabio Wardley activated his rematch clause after the defeat, setting up another Daniel Dubois fight on October 17 at The O2 in London.

The short gap between the two fights has raised questions about Wardley's condition, but he said he and his team know he is ready.

"No one knows me better than me… and the team I've had around me from the beginning," he said. "We know that I'm ready. We know that I'm fighting fit. The only way to silence that narrative is by the performance on the night."

Wardley has also refused to blame anyone for his defeat.

"I have zero excuses for the loss on the night and zero excuses going into the rematch," he said at the launch press conference. "It's just another chapter in the story that is my career."

Daniel Dubois enters the rematch as the WBO world champion, while Fabio Wardley will look to respond differently after his first professional loss.