They’ve told us not to blink, and it’s fair warning as Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois square off for the WBO World Heavyweight title on Saturday night at the Co op Live Arena in Manchester.
Unbeaten in 21 with 19 knockouts, Wardley keeps tearing up the rulebook. With no amateur pedigree and a white collar start, he’s flipped the script at every level.
He was outboxed by Australia’s Justis Huni a year ago and way down on the cards before finding a huge tenth round knockout.
Down on two cards against Joseph Parker in October, he dug deep again to force an eleventh round stoppage and claim the WBO Interim belt.
When Usyk vacated, Wardley was upgraded to full champion.
His boxing has sharpened under Ben Davison and he does ride shots that come his way, but still takes a lot of punishment. He’s absorbed it well up until this point, but Dubois is not the man you want to absorb punishment from.
Dubois can bang. With twenty one knockouts from twenty two wins, Anthony Joshua can vouch for his power, but the three defeats he has suffered have raised questions.
He was only 23 when he first lost to Joe Joyce. He took a knee, watched the count, and was hammered for it, even though his left eye was in a horrific state. It later emerged the socket was fractured. He has since lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk, no shame in that, but both defeats ended with him on one knee again, watching the ref count.
The last one in July 2025 looked bizarre as he strolled past a celebrating Usyk like he was off to Tesco for a paper and a pint of milk.
Saturday night could come down to mentality as much as physicality.
Wardley has passed test after test. He went through hell in a draw with Frazer Clarke in 2024 before blitzing him in a round in the rematch.
He’s never been dropped, not even in sparring we’re told. That could spell trouble for Dubois, because the longer it goes, the more chance Dubois has to unravel.
To his credit, Dubois has shown steel since teaming up with Don Charles.
Wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic saw him battle through adversity, helped massively by the influence of his father, Dave.
It’s Dave he listens to when things get rough, not the trainer. We’ve seen Dubois literally look to his dad for guidance mid fight.
Charles knows this and parks his ego to get the best out of him.
At Thursday’s presser Dubois, not much of a talker, kept his prediction short.
‘A win by any means necessary. I’m here for business’
Wardley was more definitive in his summary.
‘I’ll go in there the same way I go into all my fights. Providing entertainment and value for money for the fans and ultimately getting the win.
‘He is getting knocked out. I’ve done it to 95% of my opponents and he’s just another one on the list for me.
‘They’ll be no if buts and maybes. I’m going to land clean, land sharp and get him out of there.’
If he can navigate the rough patches, Dubois has the jab and pedigree to frustrate Wardley and the power to finish him.
Whether Wardley can take Dubois’ power the way he has taken others will shape the night. If he can, and he’s still standing in the second half of the fight, Dubois could start to come apart.
Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois Undercard
David Morrell has a chance to stay active after his recent fight with Callum Smith fell through. He faces Zak Chelli at Light Heavyweight, while Jack Rafferty and Ekow Essuman offer an intriguing battle at Welterweight.
Full undercard, subject to change.
Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois; WBO heavy
David Morrell vs. Zak Chelli; 175
Jack Rafferty vs. Ekow Essuman; 147
Liam Cameron vs. Bradley Rea; 175
Khaleel Majid vs. Gavin Gwynne; 140
Bakhodir Jalovov vs. Agron Smakici; heavy
Bobbi Flood vs. Nathan Darby; 154
Issiah Hamilton-Allen vs. Connor Goulding; 154
Mike Perez vs. Franklin Arinze; 200
Javokhir Ummataliev vs. Damian Drabik; 168
Fawaz Aborode vs. Garth Noot; 140
