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Fabio Wardley could activate a rematch clause for a second fight with Daniel Dubois.
Dubois defeated Wardley in a brutal 11-round battle in Manchester on Saturday, preventing the Ipswich man from winning the WBO heavyweight title.
Dubois would welcome a second fight, but he also needs time to recover.
“I’m going to have another good run – I just need a nice rest now,” Dubois said.
“I want to congratulate Fabio on a great fight. What a fighter he is, he’s a tough cookie. He took my shots and tested me. If there’s a rematch, bring it on.”
A win over Wardley makes Dubois a two-time world champion and his approach will dispel doubts that have surrounded him since his one-sided loss to Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch last year.
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Daniel Dubois was given stern instructions and two slaps from trainer Don Charles after a slow start in his fight with Fabio Wardley. Highlights courtesy of DAZN
Don Charles, his trainer with whom Dubois had briefly split since the loss to Usyk, said: “No man on the planet can ever question this kid again.
“Definitely don’t question him in front of me. What he has shown, he has cleared the doubt of all the negative talk.
“Because we came out victorious, it’s almost like I’m glad the fight went the way it did so he could show that narrative of sacrifice isn’t right. I think he ticked every box.”
Wardley dropped Dubois 10 seconds into the fight and sent the Londoner back to the canvas in the third round.
Dubois admitted: “I was a bit nervous to start and a bit all over the place but I pulled it together and got the win.
“I needed to get hurt, needed to come back, I felt like a fighter out there, digging deep and coming back. I wasn’t going to be denied. I hated my dad and the people in my corner and I couldn’t let them down.”
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Daniel Dubois had nothing but praise for Fabio Wardley following their sensational fight for the WBO heavyweight belt at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.
As the contest progressed, Dubois almost completely turned the pace of the fight his way. It got increasingly ugly for Wardley, who absorbed a terrifying number of power-punches from Dubois. Somehow her determination and sheer will kept her upright. But his face was badly scarred and he suffered severe punishment.
It looked dangerous as he couldn’t get his legs under him as he rose from his stool at the start of the 10th round, but he endured another round of Dubois’ ferocity before the referee intervened.
But it was a very exciting battle to watch and promoter Frank Warren wouldn’t be averse to bringing it back.
Warren said: “There’s nothing to complain about this fight, it was a great fight, two incredible athletes who played like athletes at the end.
“It’s a unique sport, boxing, and it’s filled with unique people.”
