“You’re going to see on the night,” Dubois said during the kick-off press conference. “He can’t do anything different. He can’t change his style. He’ll come out. He’ll try hard again, but I’ll have an answer for him.”

That view may be too dismissive. Wardley is articulate, self-aware, and capable of explaining exactly where his performance deteriorated. He also transformed his approach between the two Frazer Clarke fights, going from a 12-round struggle to a first-round knockout.

Understanding the mistake and correcting it against Dubois are different tasks. Simply deciding to jab more will not turn Wardley into a boxer. His lead must disguise the right, interrupt Dubois’ advances, and prevent the champion from setting his feet.

The battle of the jabs will shape the rematch. Dubois uses his as an offensive weapon, driving it through the guard and forcing opponents backward. Wardley often treats his left as a range-finder before launching the right. That leaves the champion with the more reliable tool if the fight settles into a controlled rhythm.

Dubois does give Wardley a countering opportunity when he paws with the jab to measure distance. Timing an overhand right across it may be the challenger’s best route to hurting him before he establishes command. Wardley must avoid becoming so anxious to exploit that chance that he throws without preparation.

The challenger’s defensive exits require similar discipline. He has a habit of pulling straight back with his chin high when opponents get inside his preferred punching arc. Using lateral pivots would force Dubois to reset instead of allowing him to continue forward behind straight punches.

Attacking the body would broaden Wardley’s offense. Hooks beneath the elbows can slow Dubois’ forward drive and bring his guard down, creating later opportunities upstairs. Those investments disappeared once the early knockdowns convinced Wardley that another head shot would finish the fight.

Even with those adjustments, Dubois may be too rugged and physically strong over a prolonged contest. Trying to outbox him from long range gives the champion room to impose his heavier jab, steady pace, and superior energy management.

Oleksandr Usyk offers Wardley a better model. He stopped Dubois twice without possessing the challenger’s raw power, exploiting his aggression, changing angles, and landing punches the bigger man did not see coming. Wardley cannot reproduce Usyk’s southpaw mechanics, but he can borrow the principle of misdirection.

The challenger has enough power to stop Dubois. The rematch will show if he can manufacture the opportunity intelligently before his home-run instincts take over again.