- Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois faced off in Manchester eight days out from May 9 at the Co-op Live
- WBO heavyweight title on the line — Wardley's first defence, Dubois chasing world honours back
- Card finalised after Anderson injury — Rafferty vs Essuman, Cameron vs Rea among the support
Eight Days, One Belt, Two Heavyweights
Right then. Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois sat across from each other in Manchester on Friday, eight days out from May 9 at the Co-op Live, and the temperature got cranked up properly. Dubois pointed at the WBO belt on the table. Wardley reminded him exactly who he is. There were no theatrics. There didn't need to be.
Make no mistake — this is the biggest all-British heavyweight title fight in years. The WBO strap on the line, Wardley's first defence, Dubois chasing a return to world honours after losing the IBF to Usyk last summer.
Wardley On Mission One
Look, Wardley's been clear from day one. He's not the type to do the build with cheap shots and circus stuff. "I'm not here for easy fights" is what he said earlier this week, and frankly that sums him up. The Ipswich man went from white-collar to British titles to the WBO belt in a few short years and he's done it all by being the harder man, the more disciplined fighter, and the better closer.
His coach Ben Davison's already warned that Fabio's primed for a firefight. That's the read here — Wardley wants Dubois to come and have a go. He thinks he wins the exchanges. He's probably right.
Dubois Has The Edge In Pedigree
Don't sleep on Daniel Dubois. He's been stopped twice in his career — by Joyce, by Usyk — but every other operator he's faced he's bullied. He's got vicious power in both hands, he's got the experience of fighting at world level, and he's been in proper title fights before. Wardley hasn't been there yet — this is his first defence, in a partisan British environment, against a man whose name carries serious weight.
The Dubois that turned up against Joshua at Wembley is the version that wins this fight. The Dubois who's not quite himself when his back's against the wall is the version that loses it.
The Card Below
The undercard's been finalised after Jared Anderson pulled out with a torn bicep. Rafferty vs Essuman at 147, Cameron vs Rea at light-heavy, Khaleel Majid vs Gavin Gwynne at lightweight. It's not the biggest support card we've seen for a heavyweight title fight, but it's solid enough to keep punters happy until the main event.
The Pick
I'm with Wardley. Not by stoppage, but on the cards. The home crowd at Co-op Live, the disciplined approach, the better defensive work — those are the differences when two punchers spend rounds in close. Dubois will land. Dubois will hurt him at some point. But Wardley's the more rounded operator now, and he's hungry for the legacy. 116-112 type score. Wardley keeps the belt and we all start talking about a Usyk fight again.
Co-op Live Manchester, May 9. Doors at 5pm UK. DAZN have it. Eight days to go.