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Wardley Defends WBO Title Against Dubois in Manchester

sportMay 10, 2026·266 words·3 min read

On Saturday, Britain's Fabio Wardley will make the first defence of his WBO (World Boxing Organization) heavyweight title against fellow Briton Daniel Dubois at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena. Around 23,500 fans are expected to attend. At Friday's weigh-in, Dubois tipped the scales at 18 stone (115 kg), the heaviest of his career, while Wardley came in at 17 stone 4 pounds (110 kg).

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.

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