Dubois next fight: Itauma mandatory looms after Wardley war

Daniel Dubois faces a crossroads at heavyweight after outlasting Fabio Wardley in Manchester on Saturday, with multiple paths ahead that could include a WBO mandatory against Moses Itauma, a contracted rematch with Wardley, or even a unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk.

Promoter Frank Warren told The Ring that both fighters deserve rest before anyone maps out their next moves, but the result at Co-op Live Arena carries immediate consequences for the division. Itauma, the 21-year-old prospect who trains in the same gym as Wardley, is set to be named WBO mandatory challenger. That makes him Dubois' most likely opponent, though a contracted rematch clause with Wardley complicates matters. Dubois had suggested before the fight that Warren wanted him to win specifically to avoid the "impossibility" of Wardley facing his own gym-mate.

Wardley rematch clause adds wrinkle to mandatory

Warren confirmed an immediate rematch option exists because Dubois took Wardley as a voluntary defence. The 31-year-old Englishman dropped Dubois twice in the opening three rounds before getting stopped late, and he may push to exercise that clause. Should the WBO enforce the Itauma mandatory at the same time, Dubois could find himself caught between sanctioning body demands and contractual obligations.

Usyk himself said during an "Inside The Ring" appearance that he would like to face the Dubois-Wardley winner once he handles business against Rico Verhoeven in Egypt this month. A unification typically trumps mandatory duties, but Usyk has already stopped Dubois twice and appetite for a third meeting remains low even after the Wardley performance. Other options floated by Taylor include a commercial fight with 40-year-old Deontay Wilder or a revenge bout against Joe Joyce, who stopped Dubois back in November 2020.

For Wardley, the path forward likely runs through either the rematch or a rebuild against the likes of Tony Yoka, Murat Gassiev, or a clutch of top-15 heavyweights. Gassiev holds the WBA regular belt and has expressed interest in fighting in the UK. Wardley sports a 95 percent knockout ratio and the kind of chin that was on full display Saturday, which may make matchmaking difficult if he chooses to step back from the Dubois sequel. The WBO is expected to clarify Itauma's status in the coming weeks.

Source: ringmagazine.com