Two big-punching heavyweights will collide on Saturday May 9th at the Co-op Live in Manchester where WBO champion Fabio Wardley will defend his title against former IBF ruler Daniel Dubois. Wardley and Dubois are two of the most destructive punchers in the whole boxing industry. The final bell is not a familiar sound to either man because they both possess formidable knockout ratios and only one win apiece on each of the two records has come via the scorecards. Now Wardley will defend the WBO world title that was upgraded from Interim status following his October stoppage of Joseph Parker against the man who attempted to become undisputed champion in his last fight against Oleksandr Usyk in July. This Co-op Live occasion is a monumental one for British boxing, with Dubois attempting to become a two-time heavyweight world champion in his second world title fight against a British opponent, following on from his knockout destruction of Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.

 

Previous all-British heavyweight world title encounters staged on these shores include Tyson Fury defending against Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora, plus David Haye against Audley Harrison. The original Battle of Britain came in 1993 when Lennox Lewis retained his WBC title with a stoppage of Frank Bruno.

 

“This is another piece of British heavyweight history being made,” said promoter Frank Warren. “This is quite simply the most exciting and explosive fight to be made for Fabio’s first defence of his WBO world title and it is typical of the man that this is the fight he wanted.

 

“Fabio’s journey has been extraordinary and inspiring and he proves time and time again that you write him off at your peril. He keeps taking on bigger challenges and keeps on delivering the goods, mostly against the odds.

 

“For Daniel to be bidding to become a two-time world champion at the age of just 28 is also remarkable and he also keeps accepting huge heavyweight missions. This will be his sixth world title fight and only Oleksandr Usyk has inflicted defeat on him across this run.

 

“It is going to be an incredible night at the amazing Co-op Live and a magnificent showcase for British boxing.”