Daniel Dubois sets timeline to become undisputed champion ahead of Fabio Wardley rematch
· Yahoo Sports
Daniel Dubois has set himself a six-fight target to become the next undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
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British boxer Dubois (23-3, 22 KOs) is the reigning WBO world heavyweight champion and puts his title on the line against compatriot Fabio Wardley on Saturday 17 October at the O2 Arena, five months on from dethroning him in an 11-round war in Manchester.
Dubois’ ultimate goal goes beyond his next outing, though, and is eager to become only the second heavyweight to hold all four titles at the same time after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his belts earlier this year.
The 29-year-old had an opportunity to earn undisputed status when he fought Usyk at Wembley Stadium in July 2025, only to lose that bout via fifth-round knockout.
But after bouncing back from his third career defeat against Wardley in May, Dubois has his eyes on all the prizes.
Daniel Dubois is the reigning WBO world heavyweight champion (Getty)Asked on his timeline to becoming undisputed champion, he said: “Within six fights. That’s what I’ve got in my head anyway.”
“You need goals in boxing. You can’t just fight for nothing. So six big fights, and that’s six big, big fights. [Agit] Kabayel, all of these guys, mix it with all of them.”
While namedropping WBC world champion Agit Kabayel as a potential future opponent, Dubois said he did not have his eyes on any candidate in particular.
“No names, whoever’s got the belt [and] brings me the most money,” he added.
With Usyk taking a step back, Dubois feels there is nobody in the division that can themselves “number one” but included Filip Hrgovic, who stunned Moses Itauma to deal the 21-year-old Briton a first professional loss and win the vacant IBA belt in August, and WBA ‘super’ champion Murat Gassiev among a list of names he was keeping an eye on when assessing the state of heavyweight.
But before going after more hardware, Dubois needs to see off the challenge of Wardley, who knocked him down twice inside the opening three rounds before ‘Dynamite’ showed tremendous heart to flip the fight on its head, unloading punishment on Wardley before stopping him in the 11th.
Fabio Wardley was stopped by Dubois in round 11 (Getty)Dubois’ goal for the rematch is simple: to beat Wardley quicker.
“I wish I was more clinical and took him out earlier than that,” he said. “That was a nightmare, so don’t let it get to that point again.”
He added: “Slow starting no more. Get a good warm-up and come out firing.”