British heavyweight boxing doesn’t get bigger than this. On May 9, 2026, at the Co-OP LIVE Arena in Manchester, Fabio Wardley puts his WBO World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Daniel “Dynamite” Dubois in a fight that pits unbeaten pedigree against explosive, proven knockout power. One fighter has never lost. The other knocked out Anthony Joshua. Something has to give.
| Date | May 9, 2026 |
| Venue | Co-OP LIVE Arena, Manchester |
| Promotion | Don’t Blink / DAZN |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Rounds | 12 |
| Title | WBO World Heavyweight Championship |
| Broadcast | DAZN PPV (UK & US) |
Fabio Wardley (20-0-1) is arguably Britain’s most consistent heavyweight over the last three years. The 30-year-old from Ipswich holds the WBO World Heavyweight title and has earned it the hard way — two brutal battles with Frazer Clarke, a stoppage of Justis Huni, and a commanding TKO11 over Joseph Parker in October 2025 that announced him as a genuine world-level operator.
The one blemish on his record — a draw against Clarke in their first fight — was emphatically erased in the rematch, stopped inside a round. Wardley is 6’5”, orthodox, 78” reach, and fights behind a high work rate with solid fundamentals. He doesn’t carry one-punch power, but he accumulates damage, and opponents tend to wilt under his pressure in the late rounds.
His win over Parker is the number that matters. Parker came in ranked, unbeaten at heavyweight in years, and Wardley stopped him in Round 11. That’s the calibre of fighter Wardley now operates at.
Daniel Dubois (22-3) is one of the most polarising figures in world heavyweight boxing. The 27-year-old Londoner carries frightening power — his September 2024 knockout of Anthony Joshua in Round 5, a right hand that remains one of the most stunning moments in recent British boxing history, confirmed what his supporters always believed. When Dubois lands, fights end.
But his three losses tell a complicated story. He was stopped twice by Oleksandr Usyk — KO9 in August 2023 and KO5 in July 2025 — losses to the best heavyweight on the planet. His early career loss to Joe Joyce remains a question mark for some. What’s undeniable: Dubois has 100 career rounds under his belt, has competed at the elite level, and possesses the one quality that makes every heavyweight bout watchable — genuine one-punch knockout power in both hands.
| Fabio Wardley | Daniel Dubois | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 30 | 27 |
| Record | 20-0-1 | 22-3 |
| Height | 6’5” | 6’5” |
| Reach | 78” | 78” |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Career Rounds | ~180 | 100 |
The physical mirror image is striking — same height, same reach, same stance. This comes down entirely to skill, power, and will.
Fabio Wardley — Last 5 Fights
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rnd |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | Joseph Parker | TKO | 11 |
| W | Justis Huni | KO | 10 |
| W | Frazer Clarke II | TKO | 1 |
| D | Frazer Clarke I | D | 12 |
| W | David Adeleye | TKO | 7 |
Daniel Dubois — Last 5 Fights
| Result | Opponent | Method | Rnd |
|---|---|---|---|
| L | Oleksandr Usyk | KO | 5 |
| W | Anthony Joshua | KO | 5 |
| W | Filip Hrgovic | TKO | 8 |
| W | Jarrell Miller | TKO | 10 |
| L | Oleksandr Usyk | KO | 9 |
This is the most intriguing stylistic matchup in British heavyweight boxing right now. Both fighters are orthodox, the same size, and both work behind the jab — yet they are fundamentally different animals.
Wardley is a volume puncher and pressure fighter who builds through rounds. His wins tend to come late: TKO7, TKO10, TKO11. He wears opponents down, digs to the body, and exploits accumulated damage. His 180+ career rounds give him an endurance edge over Dubois’s 100.
Dubois is the opposite. He’s looking for the shot — the single explosive right hand that collapses opponents in a heap. His win over Joshua didn’t come from outworking him; it came from one perfectly placed counter. He averages fewer than 5 rounds per finish. Fights with Dubois either end early or get complicated.
The critical variable is Wardley’s chin. He’s never been put down in 21 bouts. If he can absorb Dubois’s best work and stay upright, his superior conditioning and ring time should take over in the second half. But if Dubois lands clean early, the pattern from his career is clear.
Fabio Wardley wins if:
Daniel Dubois wins if:
| UK Odds | US Odds | |
|---|---|---|
| Fabio Wardley | 8/13 | -160 |
| Daniel Dubois | 6/4 | +140 |
This is genuinely close to a coin flip, and the odds reflect that. Wardley has the consistency, the rounds, and the proven recent wins. Dubois has the power to end it at any moment.
Our prediction: Fabio Wardley by UD. Dubois’s power is real, but Wardley’s work rate and engine will prove decisive over 12 rounds. If Wardley can navigate the early danger and drag Dubois into deep water, his fitness advantage tips the scales. A close, competitive fight — but Wardley’s unbeaten run continues.
| Country | Broadcaster | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 UK | DAZN PPV | 5:30 PM BST |
| 🇺🇸 US | DAZN PPV | 12:30 PM ET |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | TBC | ~2:30 AM AEST (May 10) |
Main event ring walks expected approximately 9:00 PM BST / 4:00 PM ET.
Wardley vs Dubois is the headline act of a stacked Manchester night. Before the main event, David Morrell faces Zak Chelli, Jack Rafferty takes on Ekow Essuman, Liam Cameron defends against Bradley Rea, and Khaleel Majid battles Gavin Gwynne.
When is Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois? The fight is on May 9, 2026 at the Co-OP LIVE Arena, Manchester.
What title is on the line? Fabio Wardley’s WBO World Heavyweight Championship is at stake.
How can I watch Wardley vs Dubois? The fight is on DAZN PPV in both the UK and the US.
What are the odds for Wardley vs Dubois? Wardley is a slight favourite at 8/13 (-160), with Dubois at 6/4 (+140).
Has Wardley ever been knocked down? No — Wardley is unbeaten in 21 professional bouts and has never been stopped.
What was Dubois’s biggest win? Dubois’s knockout of Anthony Joshua in Round 5 in September 2024 remains his career-defining moment.
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