Dubois vs Wardley 2: Rematch of heavyweight epic set for London

Daniel Dubois stopped Fabio Wardley in the 11th round of a Fight of the Year contender in Manchester in May to win the WBO heavyweight title; the rematch takes place at The O2 in London on Saturday October 17

Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley will face each other in a rematch of the heavyweight epic between the pair which took place earlier this year.

Dubois climbed off the canvas twice at the Co-op Live Arena in May – dropped inside the opening seconds and down again on one knee in the third – before grinding Wardley into a stoppage with the defending champion's nose gashed, his eye swollen and referee Howard Foster finally stepping in early in the 11th with Wardley still refusing to go down.

The rematch honours the clause promoter Frank Warren confirmed in the ring in Manchester, moments after one of the great modern British heavyweight fights .

Victory made Dubois a two-time world heavyweight champion, adding the WBO belt to the IBF title he previously held and defended with his knockout of Anthony Joshua at Wembley, and it ended Wardley's reign at a first defence.

The O2 is a fitting stage for the rematch too, as it was there last October that Wardley announced himself at world level, coming back from the brink to stop Joseph Parker in the 11th round for the interim WBO title.

He was then elevated to full champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt, a remarkable rise for a man who began in white-collar boxing.