Fabio Wardley go defend im WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois for Co-op Live Arena for Manchester. Di fight don generate plenty talk because both men get power wey fit end am anytime. Wardley, wey dey 31 years old, come from Ipswich and im record na 20 wins, no loss, with one draw. 19 of im wins come by knockout. Dubois, wey be 28-year-old Londoner, get 22 wins and three losses, with 21 KOs. Di two men combine for 40 knockouts, wey give dem 95% knockout rate.
Wardley become full world champion last year after dem upgrade am from interim champion. Dis one go be im first defence of di belt. Im last fight na victory against Joseph Parker wey make plenty people stand up and notice. Dubois, on di other hand, dey come back from defeat against Oleksandr Usyk last summer. Usyk don beat Dubois two times, first for di IBF title fight and later for di rematch. Now Dubois dey try to become two-time heavyweight champion.
Boxing experts don dey give dia predictions for dis fight. Many dey favour Wardley because of im toughness and ability to rise from trouble. One analyst tok say, “If Wardley can come through those first three rounds, I believe he gets rid of Dubois between six and eight.” Another person add, “Dubois is a confidence fighter and a bully so if he gets success early on he will build on it and look really strong. But when he gets hurt early, it can detract from his confidence.” Some people dey pick Dubois because of im better boxing skills and power. One expert say, “If we get a positive Dubois who uses his jab and skills, I think he can outbox Wardley but can also knock him out.”
Di fight don get extra spice because of some words wey don fly between di two. Dubois don call Wardley “lucky” for im career, and Wardley don respond with some strong talk. But both men don show say dem fit put ego aside to make di fight happen. Di weigh-in show Dubois at career-heavy 18 stone, wey be 252 pounds. Wardley no tok too much but im eyes show say im ready.
Di match dey expected to be one of di best heavyweight fights for 2026. No be only because of di power, but because both fighters like to take di centre of di ring and fight. Dem no dey run. One commentator describe am as “the finest heavyweight match-up of 2026” and say “Utter jeopardy. Surely there will be twists and turns.” Di fight go get radio commentary for BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra from 7pm, before dem switch to BBC Radio 5 Live at 10pm.
Wardley dey come with di tag of undefeated champion, but Dubois don show before say im fit bounce back from setback. After im loss to Usyk, im don beat Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua. Some people believe say if Dubois get di right mindset, im fit win. But Wardley get something wey no be skill—im get dat “innate toughness, fire and ability to stay calm under pressure.” One analyst tok, “Wardley always finds a way and is still undefeated but Dubois is one the best boxers – and the hardest puncher – he’s ever been in with.”
Di fight dey set to be explosive. With both men get power to end am anytime, di judges fit no even need to work. Di fans for Co-op Live Arena go get dia money worth. As one expert say, “Wardley has the dog over Dubois but Dubois is the better boxer and better schooled. If it gets to the trenches, I think Wardley can win it but if Dubois sticks to his boxing he’ll find it easier.”
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