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Wardley and Dubois Clash for Heavyweight Title

sportMay 10, 2026·339 words·3 min read

Britain's Fabio Wardley will make the first defence of his WBO (World Boxing Organization) heavyweight title against compatriot Daniel Dubois on Saturday at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena, in front of an expected crowd of 23,500. At Friday's weigh-in, Dubois tipped the scales at a career-heavy 18 stone (115 kg), nearly eleven pounds heavier than the 31-year-old champion.

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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