Dubois v Wardley 2: what happened in their brutal first fight

Wardley hopes to settle the score with Dubois

The WBO belt will be on the line as Dubois prepares to defend his championship against the man he stopped just five months ago. 

Their first meeting in May was a punishing affair, with Dubois securing an 11th-round victory that left Wardley with a severely damaged nose and blood covering parts of the ringside area.

The aftermath of that fight offered a glimpse of Wardley's concern for his family. 

Still recovering from the punishment he had taken, he asked his team to help him find his mother in the crowd so he could reassure her that he was alright.

Questions mount over Wardley’s readiness for Dubois rematch

With the rematch approaching, questions remain over whether Wardley has had sufficient time to recover. 

BBC Radio 5 Live's Steve Bunce, who witnessed their first encounter from ringside, believes the challenger might have been better off allowing himself a longer break before agreeing to face Dubois again.

Wardley's nose remains a particular concern, as the injury sustained in May involved an existing wound that has reopened on previous occasions.

Despite the physical challenges, Wardley has made no secret of his desire to put the defeat behind him. 

He told Bunce that the prospect of turning the tables on Dubois is something he thinks about every morning.

However, he also recognises that allowing the desire for revenge to consume him could prove counterproductive.