Fabio Wardley needs time before Dubois rematch, says Harrison

Fabio Wardley should take time to fix technical flaws before invoking his rematch clause against Daniel Dubois, according to Olympic super-heavyweight champion Audley Harrison.

Wardley lost his WBO heavyweight title when referee Howard Foster stopped him on his feet in the 11th round earlier this month, though not before he had dropped Dubois twice in a brutal slugfest. Harrison told Sky Sports News the corner should have pulled Wardley out a round earlier, saying the fighter "had nothing left" when the bout was waved off.

Boxing business will force Wardley rematch decision

Harrison expects Wardley to trigger his contractual rematch clause despite believing he needs more preparation. "In the boxing world when you have a rematch clause it's very hard not to take it," Harrison said. "I would like Team Wardley, including Ben Davison, to look in the mirror and say we have to go back to the drawing board and fix some of the things we need to fix so that we can be successful in the fight."

The former Olympian praised Wardley's rapid rise from white-collar boxing but noted that Dubois' fundamentals proved decisive from the middle rounds. "Dubois started using boxing fundamentals on him from the fifth or sixth round and started beating him up," Harrison said. "Technically I think Dubois done a great job and I think that's what separated him."

Harrison acknowledged the financial realities that make an immediate rematch likely, adding that Wardley cannot afford to wait 12 months if he passes on the clause now.

Source: skysports.com