Wardley-Dubois WBO Heavyweight Title Bout Set for May 9

A highly anticipated all-British heavyweight clash is nearing completion, with WBO champion Fabio Wardley set to defend his title against former IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois on May 9 in Manchester, United Kingdom. The bout, promoted by Queensberry Promotions, awaits an official announcement expected as early as this week.

Wardley, the 31-year-old from Ipswich, earned full WBO champion status in November 2025 after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt rather than face him as the mandatory challenger. His path to the title included a string of impressive victories throughout the year. In June 2025, Wardley came from behind to stop Australian contender Justis Huni. He followed that with an upset 11th-round knockout of former WBO champion Joseph Parker in October, securing his position as the organization's top-ranked contender. Wardley, who holds a professional record of 20 wins, 1 draw, and 19 knockouts, previously resolved a controversial draw against Frazer Clarke with a decisive first-round stoppage in their rematch. Trained by Ben Davison, Wardley has remained active, building a reputation for taking on increasingly tough opponents without setbacks.