Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley both weighed in at their career-heaviest ahead of Saturday's heavyweight world-title rematch at the O2 Arena in London. WBO champion Dubois tipped the scales at 18st 2lb (115kg), while Wardley came in at 17st 10lb (112kg).
The British rivals produced a fight-of-the-year contender in Manchester in May, with Wardley flooring Dubois twice before the Londoner rallied to stop his battered opponent in the 11th round. Wardley, 31, said he drew confidence from his knockdowns in the first and third rounds and vowed to deliver a cleaner performance. Dubois, 29, has won 23 of 26 professional fights, with 22 knockouts.
The final pre-fight formalities took place at Old Spitalfields Market in east London, where a couple of hundred fans gathered beneath the Victorian roof. The atmosphere was subdued compared with the August weigh-in there for Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic. Wardley appeared relaxed and stopped for selfies with supporters, while Dubois said little, stating simply: "I'm ready for a tear up. Let's go."
With 41 knockouts between them from 43 victories, few expect the contest to go the distance. Wardley still bore the scars of the Manchester fight, with a cut across his nose reopening during the bout. Promoter Frank Warren has predicted a "blockbuster" 2027 for the division, with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua set to meet in Cardiff on 11 December. Warren did not rule out a trilogy if Wardley avenges his only career defeat.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing