WBO-ийн хүнд жингийн дэлхийн аварга Даниел Дюбуа болон Фабио Уордли нар аравдугаар сарын 17-нд Лондоны “O2 Arena”-д даагаа нэхэх тулаан хийхээр болжээ.
Энэ оны тавдугаар сард болсон тэдний анхны тулаан маш ширүүн өрнөж, Фабио Уордли аваргын бүсээ алдсан ч өөрийн тэсвэр хатуужлаа харуулсан юм. Тухайн тулааны эхний раундын 10 дахь секундэд Уордли өрсөлдөгчөө нокдаунд оруулсан бол гуравдугаар раундад Дюбуа мөн нокдаунд орсон билээ. Гэвч Даниел Дюбуа тулааны явцад илүү хүчтэй цохилтуудыг гүйцэтгэснээр 11-р раундад техникийн нокаутаар ялалт байгуулж, Уордлид мэргэжлийн замналын анхны ялагдлыг нь амсуулсан юм.
Промоутер Франк Уоррений баталснаар, тулаанчдын гэрээнд даагаа нэхэх заалт орсон бөгөөд Уордли энэ боломжийг ашиглахаар шийджээ. Өмнөх тулаанд хүнд гэмтэл авсан ч таван сарын дараа рингэнд эргэн гарахаар бэлтгэж буй Уордли энэ удаад тактикийн өөрчлөлт хийж, ялалт байгуулахын төлөө хичээхээ илэрхийлсэн байна.
Шинжээчдийн зүгээс энэхүү хариу тулаан хурдан хугацаанд товлогдсоныг онцолж байгаа бөгөөд Уордлигийн хувьд дэлхийн аваргын бүсийн төлөө дахин тулалдах боломжоо алдахгүйн тулд энэхүү эрсдэлтэй алхмыг хийж байна хэмээн дүгнэжээ. Дюбуагийн хүчтэй цохилт болон ур чадвар дахин давамгайлах уу, эсвэл Уордли өмнөх тулааны алдаагаа засаж чадах уу гэдэг нь тулааны гол сонирхол болоод байна.
Дэлгэрэнгүй эх сурвалжийг харах
Эх сурвалжийг нээх ↓
WBO heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois will take on fellow British heavyweight Fabio Wardley at London’s O2 Arena on October 17.
The will be a rematch of their brutal battle in May that saw Wardley lose his title, but not his reputation as one of the toughest souls in the sport.
Their first meeting was an enthralling encounter from the first bell, with Wardley striking fastest, knocking down Dubois just 10 seconds into the opening round. Dubois was down for a second time in the third but regained his composure and soon began to break down a fighter renowned for his courage and durability.
As Dubois’ power punches started to take their toll, Wardley’s face told a sorry tale; his right eye swollen almost shut and blood pouring from his nose. On two occasions, referee Howard Foster summoned the ringside doctor to examine the Ipswich fighter, but he was allowed to continue and fought on bravely.
In the 11th round another big right hand from Dubois brought the stoppage from Foster, giving Wardley his first defeat in 21 bouts.
“It was a war,” Dubois told DAZN after the fight. “It shuts up the naysayers. I’ve got bundles of heart. I’m a warrior. The first knockdown was a flash knockdown, bounced it off and came back harder.”
Promoter Frank Warren confirmed after the bout that a rematch clause meant Wardley would have the chance for quick revenge, should he want it. Some five days later, he did just that.
Though many feared the damage he suffered that night would keep Wardley out of action far longer than the rematch clause would allow (it stated the rematch would have to take place before the end of 2026), just five months later the pair will face each other once again in a fight that few who saw their first will want to miss.
Speaking on Saturday, Wardley said: “It’s going to be revenge. The O2 is like a second home for me. Adjustments need to be made, and I’ve proven time and again I’m adaptable, and I can change, and that’s what I need to do for this fight.”
Analysis
For many, the later rounds of the first fight became an uncomfortable watch as Dubois landed one heavy shot after another. Though Wardley never once went down, he was clearly unsteady on his feet at times, and it seemed a matter of when, not if, Dubois would emerge victorious.
That this rematch is taking place so swiftly after that damaging first encounter is something of a surprise.
It points not only to the character and mental fortitude of Wardley but probably also to the knowledge that should he miss out on this rematch clause, there could be a lengthy wait before he gets another shot at a world title.
There’s also the fact that Wardley did have moments of success – knocking Dubois down twice early on and hurting him at other times during the bout. Going into the rematch, he will know that those are opportunities he must take advantage of.
Otherwise, Dubois’ power and superior boxing ability could wreak more damage on a fighter whose scars are still fresh.
