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Some of boxing's elite figures have made their predictions for Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley's rematch(Image: Getty Images)
The British boxing aristocracy has made its predictions for Saturday's rematch between Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley. 'Dynamite' blitzed his way to a late stoppage victory when these fighters first met in May to clinch the WBO heavyweight belt.
That result brought an end to Wardley's undefeated record in the first blemish of his boxing career. Dubois will hope to draw a line under their rivalry and cement back-to-back victories for the first time in more than two years.
The rivals will face off once more at London's O2 Arena as the British boxing public watches on with anticipation. And Mirror Fighting has compiled a list of what every major figure has said about the outcome, with a very clear favourite emerging.
Hearn has had a change of opinion since the first bout. He recalled: “I backed Fabio to win that [first] fight, right? It was the first time I ever backed him to win in the last five fights that he has been in – and he lost, but he was incredible."
Changing his tune this time around, he added: “I think that he is a massive underdog in the second fight.”
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"When I look at Fabio Wardley, he took a lot of damage in that [first] fight, and Daniel Dubois actually finished strong, stood proud and was full of energy," he said on his Froch on Fighting YouTube channel. "In the rematch, I just think Daniel Dubois’ got an extra 10 per cent over Wardley and I think that’ll be enough.
"So Fabio Wardley, unfortunately, I don’t think will get this job done and he’ll probably get stopped again. Daniel Dubois’ going to be coming into this fight really confident."
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Watch Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 live on DAZN
Daniel Dubois will defend his WBO world title in a rematch with Fabio Wardley on Saturday, October 17, at London's O2 Arena . Fans can order the fight on DAZN PPV for £24.99 or watch it at no extra cost with DAZN Ultimate.
"I think that this is Wardley’s last fight," said 'War' on talkSPORT. "I don’t think that he wants to box anymore. This is his cash out.
"After three rounds, Daniel’s going to win it by knockout."
"[Wardley] is a very tough man, he's a warrior," said former unified cruiserweight champion and WBA heavyweight titleholder David Haye on Seconds Out. "We've seen that time and time again, win or lose, he's laying it all out on the line.
"So I think he'll be ready and if it's to be, if he's able to hold it together, then he's got a chance. But Dubois looked solid last time out. Got dropped a couple of times and was able to weather the storm. So you're gonna get fireworks. Fabio's obviously gonna come with something more this time around. He understands what it's about.
"Throwing that massive overhand right that's nowhere near the target constantly. He'll have watched videos of that and thought, 'What was I doing? I need to set up my big back hand.' And we're gonna get good action. I think it'll be a lot closer [this time]. I don't think Fabio will be making the same basic, novice mistakes he was making first time around.
Former heavyweight world champion David Haye has backed Wardley to learn from the first fight(Image: Eric Espada/Getty Images)
"I don't think [Dubois] is gonna change that much, because he won the [first] fight. And when you win fights, you think, 'I've got it figured out.' So I think he's gonna be pretty much the same. He'll be a similar fighter that turned up.
"He got decked early but Fabio didn't know what he was doing, how to get someone out of there. I think Fabio, if the knockout he received, the punishment he received, if he's able to recover from that, he'll have a better shot in this return fight."
"My prediction for the fight is that Daniel Dubois wins the rematch much more comfortably than he did in the first fight," said former European super bantamweight champion Spencer Oliver on talkSPORT.
"He has grown as a fighter both physically and mentally, and he is going from strength to strength. It's going to be a tough night for Fabio Wardley."
WBC heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel told Playbook Boxing: "I think maybe Daniel win but this is heavyweight boxing.
"Definitely [Wardley has a chance] but I watched the reaction from Usyk for the fight with Fabio and Daniel and what Usyk said is correct, Fabio lost this fight on his jab. He forgot his jab, he came only with the right hand.
"When Fabio makes this better in the second fight, he can beat him. I don’t know if this is boxing politics but for the UK fans, this is the biggest fight in the heavyweight division.
"The winner of the fight, maybe he can fight with [Filip] Hrgovic or he fights with me for the belts. This is the way for everyone, but we will see."
"I need to see what Fabio's got left," said ex-WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew while speaking to DAZN. "That's a hard one...I'm not gonna lie, if Fabio comes back fully, he's a dangerous man, because he's so brave.
"And when Daniel is having success, he's a monster. It's a really, really hard fight. I wouldn't write either off of it. It's a killer. It's a brilliant, brilliant fight."
Former WBO cruiserweight king Johnny Nelson said on talkBOXING: "It's about levels and [their last fight] shows quite clearly that Daniel's is way above Fabio's. I think Fabio is going to box so much better but Daniel is going to step it up even more."
"Fabio Wardley's an absolute machine, one of the toughest men out there. You'd want him on the front line," former IBF middleweight champion Darren Barker told DAZN. "You'd want him to be stood next to you in battle. The man’s an absolute soldier and has the ability to knock anyone out.
"Think back to the punches that dropped Daniel Dubois in the first fight. They were glancing blows. They weren't full — he didn't have full purchase on the shots. A couple of them glanced the top of the head. If he hits the target correctly, he's got every chance of getting the win.
"But I just feel Dubois has found a new confidence. He's exorcised those demons from when the word ‘quit’ was being thrown around. Filip Hrgovic hit him with about 20 right hands a couple of years ago. He stayed there, kept digging in and found a way to win.
"He got dropped twice by Wardley but managed to get the victory. It was a very good fight, but it was kind of one-sided in big portions.
"I know Wardley loaded up, found big shots and made it exciting, but the boxing from Dubois was really good. As long as he's not complacent and doesn't get overconfident, I feel he'll have a bit too much for Wardley."
George Groves has tipped Dubois to finish off the rivalry if he's at his best(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking on Sky Sports' Toe2Toe podcast, former WBA super-middleweight titleholder George Groves said: "I've seen [Wardley] say, 'I caught him. I hurt him. It's my fault I blew it. It was mine to lose...'
"I don't think that's the case, to be honest. It was almost Dubois' to lose. Dubois is the better boxer, you know. [He has] better movement, faster hands. I mean they both can crack but you think Dubois has got crazy power.
"I think they've both got great chins. You can't fault Wardley's chin...when you see him get caught on the button, the punches bounce off him.
"One thing I thought about is the mentality of Dubois, because sometimes he's on it and usually, sometimes, after a big win, he's not there. And I just think he's beat Wardley now. Does he think, 'Eh, I'm better than Wardley,' and he's not quite switched on... If he has [that mentality], he may come unstuck.
"Because let's get it straight, Wardley with no amateur pedigree, very limited boxer, but very effective with the way he is. Big, strong, powerful, game and maybe a slight awkwardness to his style. Dubois figured that out last time. If he shows up, he walks it."
"Wardley is taking an enormous gamble," commentator Steve Bunce wrote in his BBC Sport column. "His nose was badly damaged in the first fight, and the cut across its bridge is an old wound that has reopened before.
"He has also been through plenty of hard rounds throughout his career, sometimes unnecessarily against opponents he was expected to beat comfortably. That concerns me. But I've spoken to Wardley a couple of times in the build-up, and he makes a compelling argument for an immediate rematch...
"Dubois seems more sheltered than normal this week, which in his case translates into more focused. He knows how close he came to losing the first fight, having made mistakes and been dropped twice. This time he seems confident without being overconfident.
"If he stops Wardley again in another spectacular fight, I would argue he becomes the most marketable heavyweight in the division."
Wardley is aiming to avenge his 11th-round stoppage defeat to Dubois(Image: Getty Images)
"I've not made a career out of going to points," said the challenger. "I've made a career out of finishing fights before the bell. I had it done almost in the first round of our fight, almost in the third round.
"We'll pick apart those moments, pick apart you stylistically, what worked and what didn't work, and within the first quarter of the fight, you'll be gone."
Speaking ahead of Saturday's rematch, Dubois said: "A win by any means necessary. I respect you. You're a good gladiator, a good dance partner, but I'm going to win."
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