Fabio Wardley relishing return to underdog status for Daniel Dubois rematch

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Fabio Wardley is revelling in the freedom of being reinstated as the underdog for his bid to recapture the WBO world title lost to Daniel Dubois in May.

The British heavyweight rivals collide at The O2 Arena on Saturday in an immediate rematch of their savage first meeting that saw Dubois climb off the canvas twice to stop Wardley in the 11th round.

Having been relieved of his belt, Wardley is now back in the familiar territory of being asked to defy the odds in the latest assignment of an unconventional route to the top that began in white collar boxing.

“Honestly, it’s great,” the 31-year-old from Ipswich said. “I actually really love it. It feels more natural, more weightless.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s fantastic being a world champion and holding that belt. It was also having an undefeated record and the weight of going in with such a good fighter like Daniel.

“Now I just feel free. The talk around the fight has changed. I’m back to being expected to lose and things going worse for me.

“I’ve been proving people wrong for I don’t know how many years now. Seemingly for me, it’s better when I’m told I’m going to be the underdog and I’m going to lose, that this is a level too far for me.

“I’m the challenger and chaser and honestly for me it all just feels like, ‘this is it, this is the nice bit that I enjoyed for the past however many years on my rise and on my way up’. It feels great.”

“A relaxed fighter is comfortable and confident and I think that’s always beneficial, so this improves my chances.”

Dubois is experiencing his second reign as world heavyweight champion having defended his IBF belt against Anthony Joshua and then lost it to Oleksandr Usyk.

The power-punching Londoner has a strong amateur pedigree and is intent on becoming undisputed champion, yet also frames himself as the outsider fighting for respect.

“I always feel like the underdog – always,” he said. “I always carry that mentality.

“The way I came up, that’s the way he’s got to be. It’s backs against the wall, ready to bite and attack.”

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