Tension escalates ahead of the WBO heavyweight title fight between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois, scheduled for May 9 at Co-op Live in Manchester. Controversy brews after Wardley’s remarks about Dubois’s potential career outside boxing, suggesting he might be a bin man if not for the sport.
This comment sparked immediate backlash. Dubois’s trainer, Don Charles, expressed disbelief, stating, “That’s quite shocking to me, I’m surprised coming from Fabio.” The animosity is palpable as both fighters prepare for what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Wardley enters the bout with an impressive record of 20 wins—19 by knockout—and is set to defend his WBO heavyweight title for the first time. He secured this title with a Round 11 stoppage of Joseph Parker last October. Meanwhile, Dubois, with 22 wins and 21 KOs, aims to bounce back after his knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk last July.
As anticipation builds for this Manchester boxing event, fans can expect undercard action starting at approximately 6 p.m. BST, leading up to ring walks around 11 p.m. BST. The fight will be available on DAZN pay-per-view, costing £24.99 for viewers eager to witness this clash.
Key statistics:
- Wardley has stopped all but one of his opponents.
- Dubois has a total of 40 knockouts between both fighters.
- Wardley is 31 years old; Dubois is 28.
The British boxing rivalry intensifies as both fighters prepare for battle in the ring. Dubois responded to Wardley’s comments by labeling them as disrespectful: “Really, it’s disrespect; we’ll address that in the ring.”