The former heavyweight champion says Wardley is right to pursue an immediate second fight despite suffering an 11th-round stoppage loss
Anthony Joshua believes Fabio Wardley made the correct decision by activating his rematch clause with Daniel Dubois. The former heavyweight champion said fighters competing for the heavyweight championship should not hesitate to take another opportunity when it becomes available.
Wardley activated his rematch clause shortly after suffering an 11th-round stoppage loss to Dubois in one of the year’s most dramatic heavyweight title fights. While some supporters have called for Wardley to take time away from the ring and rebuild, Joshua sees no issue with him going straight back into the fire.
“100% [Wardley did the right thing]. Listen, they are warriors, what else are they going to do? Unless he needs the time [to recover], I don’t know, but away from his personal life and from a fighting point of view, if he is 100% focussed and that is what he wants to do. Do it, man, get in there. This is [for] the heavyweight championship of the world,” said Joshua to iFL TV about him being in favor of Wardley taking the rematch.
Joshua’s position differs from many fans who watched Dubois gradually take control after a chaotic opening. Dubois was dropped twice in the first three rounds but recovered, established his jab, and began breaking Wardley down before forcing the stoppage in the 11th.
Critics of the rematch believe Wardley needs more than courage to change the outcome. They point to Dubois’ success behind the jab and argue Wardley relied too heavily on landing a single right hand without consistently setting up his attacks. Others feel a second fight could bring more punishment if the technical issues from the first bout remain unchanged.
Joshua knows the lure of an immediate rematch. He pursued second fights with both Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk after suffering defeats. Joshua reclaimed his titles from Ruiz but was unable to reverse the result against Usyk.
Promoter Frank Warren has already suggested Wardley-Dubois II could headline a stadium event in the United Kingdom before the end of the year.
