Fabio Wardley Calls for Immediate Firefight as WBO Heavyweight Title Defence Against Daniel Dubois Looms

Fabio Wardley has made clear he has no interest in a tactical, measured approach when he puts his WBO heavyweight world title on the line against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on May 9, calling on his challenger to engage in a brawl from the outset.

“We have all the intention as a team of getting straight in there and getting straight stuck in, getting into his face and making it a fight, making it a firefight,” Wardley told Sky Sports News. “Just letting the guns go and seeing what lands. Because there’s no need to be hanging around. There’s no need to box and move and jab in this scenario.”

The champion added: “We’re two big guys that at any second can change the course, turn the fight on its head, whichever way around you want to call it. I’m not looking to waste any time and I’m hoping that Daniel’s not either.”

The sentiment is understandable given the profiles of both fighters. Wardley has built his reputation as a devastating finisher, most notably stopping Justis Huni late in their contest and ending Frazer Clarke’s challenge early in their rematch. A victory over Joseph Parker last year cemented his status as WBO heavyweight world champion.

Dubois arrives as the challenger but carries formidable credentials of his own. The former world titlist is widely regarded as one of the hardest punchers in the division and holds one of the most significant results in recent heavyweight history — a knockout victory over Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in 2024, which remains Joshua’s most recent defeat.

Subsequently, Dubois lost the IBF heavyweight title to Oleksandr Usyk, leaving the Manchester bout as his opportunity to reclaim world championship status and become a two-time heavyweight titleholder. A win over Wardley would represent a significant resurgence for the 27-year-old.

The matchup carries considerable weight in the context of the broader heavyweight landscape. Usyk remains a central figure at the top of the division, while a potential bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua continues to generate attention. For both Wardley and Dubois, a victory on May 9 would significantly strengthen their positions in any future world title conversations.

With two elite-level punchers set to share the ring, Wardley’s preference for an immediate exchange rather than a measured, technical contest reflects both his fighting style and a calculated strategic read of the matchup. Whether Dubois obliges with the same aggressive intent remains to be seen, but the champion’s message ahead of fight night is unambiguous.