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What's Next for Daniel Dubois? WBO Champion Eyes February Return
Nine days after demolishing Fabio Wardley, the WBO heavyweight champion already has a return window — and promoter Frank Warren has a queue of unification options.
Nine days after needing less than six minutes to end his rivalry with Fabio Wardley, Daniel Dubois already has a month pencilled in for his return: February.
Promoter Frank Warren confirmed the timeline on talkSPORT this week, and the names in the frame tell their own story — every realistic route to the WBO champion's next fight runs toward a bigger belt.
The defense that set it up
Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title on October 17 at London's O2 Arena, stopping Wardley inside two rounds in a rematch that was effectively over after 20 seconds. A straight right forced a standing count almost immediately, and Wardley's corner threw in the towel as referee Steve Gray stepped in with 39 seconds left in the second round.
The champion absorbed just four punches all night — a stark contrast to May's first meeting in Manchester, where Dubois climbed off the canvas twice before grinding out an 11th-round stoppage. His record now stands at 24-3 with 23 knockouts.
"My back was against the wall the first time," Dubois said afterwards. "This time we just had to go out there and show that we mean business. It was my time and my era."
February return confirmed
"He'll fight in February, and we are going to look and see," Warren said. "He will be in big fights because he tells me he wants to earn lots of money, and the only way you earn lots of money is by being in big fights."
The champion was even more direct ringside: he wants big money and big fights — and has called for a third meeting with Oleksandr Usyk, who has beaten him twice.
Three routes to a bigger belt
Agit Kabayel is the simplest piece of the puzzle. The unbeaten WBC champion (27-0) defends against Nelson Hysa on November 28 in Dusseldorf, Germany — a stadium show already past 43,000 tickets sold — and shares Dubois' Queensberry promotional stable. A WBO-WBC unification can be made without either man's mandatory obligation getting in the way.
Filip Hrgovic was ringside at the O2 and climbed in for an impromptu face-off. The new IBF champion's only professional defeat came against Dubois in 2024, and the Croatian wants revenge. But he must first oblige mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez, a fight being lined up for Croatia in early 2027.
The winner of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua on December 11 is the wildcard. That fight carries the WBA title — and because the principals, like Dubois, sit under Warren's umbrella, a four-belt collision course is suddenly plausible.
Rising contender Moses Itauma is also in the conversation, though a leap to a reigning champion may be one fight too soon.
The Usyk question
Any talk of undisputed eventually runs into Oleksandr Usyk, who stopped Dubois in 2023 and again in 2025. The champion insists the gap has closed: "I'd love that. We made our mistakes but I'm a different fighter now."
Dates to circle
- November 28 — Kabayel vs Hysa for the WBC title, Dusseldorf
- December 11 — Fury vs Joshua for the WBA title
- Early 2027 — Hrgovic vs Sanchez, IBF mandatory in Croatia
- February — Dubois returns; opponent expected to follow the November and December results
When is Daniel Dubois' next fight?
Promoter Frank Warren says the WBO heavyweight champion will return in February 2027, with the opponent to be decided once the division's late-2026 results are in.
Did Dubois win his last WBO title defense?
Yes. He stopped Fabio Wardley in the second round at London's O2 Arena on October 17, 2026 — his second successive stoppage win over Wardley, taking his record to 24-3 with 23 knockouts.
Who could Dubois face in a unification fight?
WBC champion Agit Kabayel, provided he beats Nelson Hysa on November 28, or IBF champion Filip Hrgovic once Hrgovic meets mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez.
