Fabio Wardley has urged Daniel Dubois to make it “a firefight” from the first bell when they meet for Wardley’s WBO heavyweight world title next month in Manchester.
Dubois, famed for his heavy hands, was the last man to beat Anthony Joshua, knocking him out at Wembley Stadium in 2024. He then lost the IBF title to Oleksandr Usyk and will be aiming to become a two-time champion when he challenges Wardley on May 9.
Wardley is a finisher himself, having stopped Justis Huni late and defeated Frazer Clarke early in their rematch, and he beat Joseph Parker last year to claim the WBO belt.
“We have all the intention as a team of getting straight in there and getting straight stuck in, getting into his face and making it a fight, making it a firefight,” Wardley told Sky Sports News. “Just letting the guns go and seeing what lands. Because there’s no need to be hanging around. There’s no need to box and move and jab in this scenario. We’re two big guys that at any second can change the course, turn the fight on its head, whichever way around you want to call it.
“I’m not looking to waste any time and I’m hoping that Daniel’s not either.”