Wardley-Dubois Heavyweight Title Fight Set for May 9

Fabio Wardley will defend his heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in the main event of a boxing card at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena on May 9, though the lineup has been diminished by the withdrawal of American prospect Jared Anderson due to injury.

Queensberry Promotions announced on Sunday that Anderson, a 26-year-old heavyweight, suffered a torn bicep during training and will not face Solomon Dacres in the scheduled co-main event. The 6-foot-4 Anderson, who was set for his promotional debut, has fought only once since a knockout loss to Martin Bakole last year. Organizers plan to reveal a replacement bout within 24 hours, leaving it unclear whether Dacres will remain on the card with a new opponent.

The headline clash, billed as "Don't Blink," pits the undefeated Wardley against the power-punching Dubois in what promoters expect to be an explosive encounter. Wardley, a former white-collar boxer, captured English, British, and Commonwealth heavyweight titles early in his career with victories over Nick Webb, Nathan Gorman, and David Adeleye. His recent knockouts of Frazer Clarke in one round, Justis Huni, and Joseph Parker earned him champion status after Oleksandr Usyk...