Daniel Dubois says he will not let his WBO heavyweight title fight with Fabio Wardley go the distance — he wants the belt and he wants it emphatically.
A former IBF champion, Dubois insists he’ll reclaim world title status in style. “I’m going to take him out, put him to sleep, take that belt,” he told Sky Sports News, adding: “What I do is put damage and bring the pain. That’s all I’m going to do.”
Dubois pointed to his recent run of high-profile performances as evidence he belongs at the top level. He halted Anthony Joshua at Wembley and has twice shared the ring with current unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, suffering stoppage defeats on both occasions but demonstrating he can mix with the era’s best.
Wardley comes into the fight with an impressive professional résumé of his own. Although he did not have Dubois’s amateur pedigree, he has racked up standout wins as a pro, including stoppages of Joseph Parker and Justis Huni. He was promoted from interim titlist to full WBO champion without having to fight for the belt in the ring, and he says Saturday’s showdown is an opportunity to validate that status.
“I think it is just that crowning moment of hearing it in the ring on the night, the belt being handed to you and hearing it all announced,” Wardley said. “It’s special because there’s not a long list of British heavyweight champions, and an all‑British title fight is an even shorter list.”
Wardley accepts Dubois is a dangerous opponent and plans to start fast. “There’s going to be a few tricky moments I’m going to have to figure out on the night,” he told Sky Sports News. “We’re well aware that I can’t waste time. From the second that bell goes I’ll be flying across the ring and getting straight involved. So, we’ll see if he’s there to meet me.”
Both fighters expect fireworks rather than a tactical 12 rounds. Dubois says he’s returned hungrier than ever: “I’m motivated, really motivated. I’ve come back from being champion and I’m going for it again, so I’m really up for it.”
If Wardley defends successfully, he has already hinted at bigger targets, including a potential shot at unified champion Usyk. For now, both men are focused on Saturday night and on proving who truly deserves the WBO heavyweight title.