As the countdown to the WBO heavyweight title fight on May 9 at Co-op Live in Manchester intensifies, tensions have escalated following a controversial remark made by Fabio Wardley regarding Daniel Dubois’s potential career outside of boxing.
Wardley, who will defend his WBO heavyweight title for the first time, recently stated, “If he wasn’t a boxer, I think he might just be a bin man or something like that.” This comment has drawn immediate backlash from Dubois and his camp, with sources indicating that it has added fuel to an already heated rivalry.
The upcoming fight is significant not only for its championship stakes but also for the fighters’ contrasting records; Wardley boasts an unbeaten record of 20 wins, including 19 knockouts, while Dubois holds a record of 22 wins and 3 losses, with an impressive 21 knockouts to his name. Both fighters are expected to deliver an electrifying performance as they compete for the prestigious WBO title.
Key facts about the fight:
- Wardley secured the WBO interim title through a Round 11 stoppage victory over Joseph Parker last October.
- Dubois faced a setback when he was knocked out by Oleksandr Usyk in July of last year.
- The fight is marketed under the slogan ‘Don’t Blink’, hinting at the explosive nature anticipated in the ring.
The event will commence with undercard fights starting at approximately 6 p.m. BST, leading up to the main event expected around 11 p.m. BST. Viewers can access the fight via DAZN, which requires either an annual subscription costing £119.99 or a monthly fee of £25.99. The pay-per-view cost for this highly anticipated matchup is set at £24.99.
Following Wardley’s remarks, Dubois’s trainer Don Charles expressed his discontent, stating, “That’s quite shocking to me, I’m surprised coming from Fabio.” Dubois himself commented on the situation by asserting that such comments are disrespectful but promised to “address that in the ring.” This exchange exemplifies the rising tensions as both fighters prepare for what promises to be a defining moment in their careers.