Wardley to Defend Title Against Dubois
On Saturday, Fabio Wardley will defend his WBO (World Boxing Organization) heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in Manchester. About 23,500 fans will watch the fight at the Co-op Live Arena. At the weigh-in, Dubois weighed 18 stone (115 kg) , the most of his career. Wardley weighed 17 stone 4 pounds (110 kg) . Both men have knocked out about 95 percent of their opponents.
The two boxers come from very different paths. Wardley started boxing in white-collar gyms and had little experience as an amateur. He often wins by knocking opponents out late in fights. Dubois has lost three times— once to Joe Joyce and twice to Oleksandr Usyk. But he knocked out Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September 2024, in front of 96,000 people. In January, Dubois returned to coach Don Charles at Farm Gym in Hertfordshire.
The fight matters for both men's futures. Wardley wants to fight world champion Oleksandr Usyk next. Another loss would hurt Dubois, who is a quiet man and lives under the strong influence of his father, Stan. The result will change the top of British boxing. Whoever wins, the night will be exciting for fans.
