British heavyweight showdown: Newly crowned WBO champion Fabio Wardley defends his belt for the first time against former world champion Daniel Dubois.
The fight is official: Fabio Wardley will defend his WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois for the first time on May 9. This will be a top-class, all-British duel for the world heavyweight championship.
Queensberry boss Frank Warren confirmed the highly anticipated title fight on his promotion’s social media channels following reports earlier in the week. The venue is the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. The event will be broadcast worldwide by the streaming service DAZN. The undercard will be announced in the coming weeks.
Wardley enters the ring as world champion
Wardley (20-0-1, 19 knockouts) was elevated to regular WBO world champion after undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk relinquished one of his four titles last year. The 31-year-old from Ipswich had already secured the interim title in October with a dominant T.K.O. victory in round eleven against Joseph Parker.
Wardley is regarded as a powerful pressure fighter with a high knockout rate. With 19 early wins in 20 victories, he brings explosiveness and power to the Co-op Live Arena – now his first title defense is on the program.
Dubois faces the chance to make amends
Dubois (22-3, 21 knockouts), on the other hand, lost his IBF world title in July with a disappointing fifth-round knockout defeat to Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley Stadium. Since then, the 28-year-old has not been back in the ring. In addition, coaching changes – from Don Charles to Tony Sims and back – and a party at Dubois’ London home on the eve of the defeat caused unrest in his camp. Nevertheless, “Dynamite” now has the chance of a sporting restart.
On May 9, Dubois can make history in Manchester and be crowned heavyweight champion of the world once again – while Wardley wants to prove that his rise to the top of the WBO was no coincidence. A British heavyweight clash is on the cards – with knockout potential on both sides.