From around the world, here are some of the big boxing stories on Saturday, October 17
Was Dubois-Wardley FOTY contender?
WATCH: Relive pair’s bruising first clash
Wardley and Dubois make final title claims
Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois both promised victory as they came together for the final time at the weigh-in ahead of their rematch.
Both looked in impeccable shape ahead of the sequel, and after their first meeting delivered a classic heavyweight encounter, expectations are high once again.
“I’m ready to go, ready for my job,” said Dubois when speaking to Sky Sports .
“I’ll break him down, break him down. Like last time, but better this time.”
Wardley, who had Dubois down twice in the first encounter before being stopped in the fight’s penultimate round, is expecting another tough night.
“Knowing it’s going to be a hard, hard fight is what gees me up, what keeps me going,” said Wardley when speaking to the same outlet.
“It was well and truly something I came to terms with the second I pressed the button on the rematch clause. We’re probably going back into the same kind of depths.”
Figueroa suffers blow ahead of Kameda fight
After defeating Nick Ball in a stunning performance earlier this year to become world featherweight champion, Brandon Figueroa has lost that belt on the scales after missing weight for tonight’s clash with Tomoki Kameda.
Figueroa weighed 127.4lbs and was unable to get down to the featherweight limit of 126lbs, meaning only Kameda can win the belt, although the fight is still expected to go ahead.
The news is a major blow for Figueroa, who produced one of the year’s best performances when he travelled to England and caused a huge shock by beating the Liverpool fighter.
If Figueroa gets past Kameda, a move to super-featherweight may become the obvious next step if making 126lbs has become too strenuous.
Sanchez likes Dubois’ chances
Abel Sanchez will be a keen observer when Dubois and Wardley clash again tonight.
After masterminding Filip Hrgovic’s upset victory over Moses Itauma, a result that saw the Croat become IBF champion, major fights are now on the horizon for Hrgovic, including a potential meeting with the winner of this rematch.
Sanchez, one of boxing’s most sought-after trainers, believes Dubois must avoid another slow start, but he still expects the same outcome as the first fight.
“Dubois is a slow starter. He needs to be more of a boxer in the beginning just to get warmed up and keep Wardley on the defensive,” said Sanchez when speaking to The Ring .
“Dubois should get warmed up quicker so that he’s not caught cold. I think that is his problem in the fights — he gets dropped when he starts cold. Dubois needs to be warmed up like it’s the next round from the last fight against Wardley. But I still think Dubois beats Wardley in this next fight.”
Watch Dubois vs. Wardley 2 exclusively on DAZN
Do not miss out as the ‘ Fight of the Year’ returns as Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley go at it once again for the WBO heavyweight crown. After a brutal original fight, the two rematch on Saturday, October 17, exclusively on DAZN PPV.
Buy the fight as a one-off PPV, or get it included in our Ultimate Tier subscription, which includes PPV fight nights as part of your annual package.
For pricing, how to watch and to buy, click here .
Source: www.dazn.com
