What next for Fabio Wardley?

What next for Fabio Wardley after his second successive defeat?

Once a bout has concluded, boxing fans and the media instantly and instinctively turn their thoughts and attention to what's next before the boxers have even had a chance to exit the ring they have just fought in.

For the victor in a heavyweight world title fight, the world is their oyster and the future offers endless possibilities including high-profile defences, unifications and a path to undisputed status as well as, of course, the promise of more seven-figure, or even larger, pay days.

That enviable immediate future is the reality for Daniel Dubois following his two-round demolition of Fabio Wardley in their WBO world title fight at a sold-out O2 Arena, London last Saturday night.

Dubois’ long-term promoter, Frank Warren is already eyeing up a lucrative ring return for his heavyweight charge in February 2027, likely against IBF titlist Filip Hrgovic, but in this most unforgiving of sports, the question is a far tougher one to answer for the defeated fighter, Wardley.

The heavyweight division rarely allows for its participants to roll back the clock, but for Wardley, before his first defeat to Dubois in a brutal bout in Manchester in May, was in an excellent position in the never-ending, snakes and ladders world of the glamour division.

His record stood at an unbeaten 20-0-1, the only ‘blemish’ was a barnstorming draw with Frazer Clarke for the British belt, Wardley hammered Clarke inside a round in the rematch six months later to collect the title.

The journey did not end there, remarkably for a man with just four white-collar fights and no amateur experience, he became WBO world champion in the weeks after stopping former owner of that belt, Joseph Parker for his career-best win and so he, like Dubois now, had the world at his feet.

Dubois was his preferred opponent for his first defence, a brave and somewhat refreshing move to take on a highly dangerous former champion in his maiden defence, rather than opt for a softer touch.

In the early stages of their first bout, it looked an astute call-Wardley dropping Dubois twice in the opening three rounds before the challenger remarkably turned the tables, dishing out a brutal beating that was finally ended by the referee in the 11th, after the now-dethroned champion had suffered severe facial injuries.

Being the proud fighter that he is, there was little doubt that Wardley would opt to invoke his contractual rematch clause and he did so within days, and so to last Saturday night.

Dubois, the confidence of the first fight and now being champion was a very different beast from the opening bell, a howitzer of a right hand cracked Wardley flush on the chin, forcing him to touch down within just 20 seconds of the opening bell, a reversal from the first fight where Dubois was dropped in 10 seconds of the bell. It’s quite frankly remarkable and a testament to Wardley’s spirit and desire that he was able to fight on.

He survived the opening stanza, but it was only temporary relief and crunching follow up shots by Dubois rained in before referee, Steve Gray, jumped in as trainer Ben Davison simultaneously threw in the towel from the corner.

And so to the post-fight interviews, Dubois delirious and promoter, Frank Warren, clearly relishing having a vice-like grip on the heavyweight division as he plots unifications between Dubois, the IBF champion, Filip Hrgovic, who made his way to the ring in a striking red and white check jacket in the aftermath, the WBC kingpin, Agit Kabayel, and maybe even the winner of the colossal December meeting between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, which will have the WBA Super title on the line.

Finally, the excellent Anna Woolhouse of DAZN quizzed Wardley and the Ipswich man made it crystal clear that his intention was to fight on, citing his conqueror as an example to follow, stating, “Daniel is a testament to coming up short and coming again and I’ll be looking to do the same”.

After he had reflected on the two fights and denying that the rematch had happened too soon after their initial meeting, he signed off defiantly with, “I’ll come back stronger”.

Those utterances in the immediate aftermath of a devastating defeat are nothing new, but now the bright lights of the O2 have faded and the boxing world moves on to what’s next, there will be some serious soul searching and difficult conversations for Wardley to have over the coming weeks and months.

For the 2025 British Fighter of the Year, an award deservedly earned by Wardley and bestowed on him by ESPN and Boxing News, retirement could now become a serious possibility, before the Christmas decorations have gone up in 2026.

The heavyweight division is ruthless in its very nature and will now move on to unifications in 2027, via Dusseldorf in late November for Kabayel’s first title defence against Nelson Hysa and then Cardiff a fortnight later for the Fury-Joshua showdown.

Having been at the epicentre of the division across 2025 and 2026, Wardley finds himself somewhat frozen out in terms of title shots.

Multiple factors point to now being the perfect time to hang the gloves up once and for all, but that, as we know from history, is the toughest decision for a boxer to arrive at and stick to.

He turns 32 before the year is out, which is not old for a heavyweight in this era, so he may feel as though he has time on his side to have a well deserved rest, but can he ever, after the punishment he has shipped at the hands of Dubois, be the same again?

Due to those bouts as well as the initial Clarke contest and further gruelling battles with David Adeleye and Joe Parker, Wardley has more miles on the clock than most with 23 fights under their belt, and even in less than two rounds on Saturday night, he looked badly marked up with his nose looking like a dam that is about to burst at any given moment.

The cautionary tale of Joe Joyce was echoed in various quarters both before and after Saturday night. Wardley may well look at the journey of another fighter whose chin was seen as impregnable until it simply wasn’t and should be wary of ending up in the same situation of fighting on, even at a level below the elite.

Having been at the forefront of Queensberry’s heavyweight stable in recent times and having had three fights back-to-back on Pay-Per-View, Wardley will have undoubtedly earned well, certainly more than he would’ve thought given his lack of amateur pedigree, and so does he decide to sail off in to the sunset with his bounty and enjoy the fruits of his labour with his family whilst his faculties remain intact?

Wardley is intelligent and articulate and has impressed when on punditry duty. A career on the other side of the ropes awaits, if he wants to remain involved in the sport when he does decide that his time as a fighter is up, but he will undoubtedly have a plethora of options and opportunities available to him when that day comes.

If he does decide to fight on, and my early prediction is that we do see more chapters of the wondrous Wardley story, it will, as ever, be must-see television.

Almost regardless of whether it’s him dishing out the punishment or on the receiving end, you may find yourself watching through your hands as Wardley goes to work in another heavyweight battle for the ages.

Potential Opponents for Wardley:

Joseph Parker

Lawrence Okolie

Jarrell Miller

Moses Itauma

Justis Huni

Loser of Joshua-Fury