- Published
Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley both weighed in at their career-heaviest and promised another explosive encounter in Saturday's heavyweight world-title rematch in London.
asserted
Dubois → publish → London
WBO champion Dubois tipped the scales at 18st 2lb (115kg) while Wardley came in at 17st 10lb (112kg) before their meeting at the O2 Arena.
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Wardley → tip → Arena
The British rivals produced a fight-of-the-year contender in Manchester in May, with Wardley flooring Dubois twice before the Londoner rallied to stop his bloodied and battered opponent in the 11th round.
uncertain
Londoner → produce → round
"I draw confidence from the successes I had in the first fight - getting knockdowns in the first and third," Wardley, 31, said.
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Wardley → draw → first
"I need to capitalise on those moments better.
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I → need → moments
I'm ready to put on a cleaner performance."
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I → put → performance
Dubois, 29, is more than 2lb heavier for the rematch, while Wardley has added more than 6lb.
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Wardley → add → lb
Asked for his prediction, Wardley added: "Revenge, Fabio Wardley, knockout win."
Subdued scenes at Spitalfields Market
The final pre-fight formalities took place at Old Spitalfields Market in east London, with the two heavyweights taking to the scales amid the bustle of street-food stalls and shoppers.
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heavyweights → ask → stalls
A couple of hundred fans gathered beneath the market's Victorian roof, some having made the trip specifically for the event while others stopped to see what the fuss was about.
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fuss → gather → what
It was a rather subdued affair, with a smaller turnout than when Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic weighed in at the same venue in August.
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Itauma → weigh → August
Wardley arrived more than an hour before the event, appearing as relaxed as he has throughout fight week and even stopping for selfies with supporters afterwards.
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he → arrive → supporters
Dubois arrived much later and has appeared in little mood for conversation this week.
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Dubois → arrive → conversation
"I know him now and know what to expect.
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I → know → what
I'm ready to go and do my job," the Londoner said.
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Londoner → go → job
Let's go."
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's → let → ?
There was no drama at the obligatory face-off, despite the fierce rivalry that has developed between them, and two-time world champion Dubois was quick to leave the stage afterwards.
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Dubois → be → stage
Could we see a trilogy?
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we → see → trilogy
With 41 knockouts between them from 43 victories, few expect the contest to go the distance.
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contest → expect → distance
Wardley, sporting Ipswich Town's newly-launched third kit with his name printed on the sleeve, was still bearing the scars of his punishing defeat in Manchester five months ago.
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Wardley → sport → Manchester
A cut across the bridge of his nose, first sustained during his 2024 draw with Frazer Clarke, reopened against Dubois and left his face badly swollen and bloodied.
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cut → sustain → face
The punishment he absorbed has raised questions over whether his decision to take an immediate rematch has come too soon but Wardley remains confident he can reverse the result.
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he → absorb → result
"It's simply seek and destroy now," he said.
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he → seek → ?
Promoter Frank Warren is predicting a "blockbuster" 2027 for the heavyweight division, with lucrative fights awaiting Saturday's winner.
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fights → predict → winner
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally meet in Cardiff on 11 December, while British prospect Itauma is set to return in January following his world-title defeat by Hrgovic.
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Itauma → meet → Hrgovic
Warren confirmed there is no clause for a third fight between Dubois and Wardley but the Queensberry Promotions boss refused to rule out a trilogy if the Ipswich fighter avenges the only defeat on his record.
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fighter → confirm → record
"If that happens it's a natural fight," Warren said.
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Warren → happen → ?
Who will they fight next year?
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they → fight → Who
We want to find out who is the best."
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who → want → ?
The Aporia
