Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois | DAZN PPV - 9 May 2026

[881073]

I heard Daniel Dubois also pulled out, maybe Moses Itauma can step in.
Somehow I doubt Fabio Wardley would accept that, he doesn't seem to be that good in the first place, the referee already had to safe him in his fight against Parker and probably doesn't want to fight Moses Itauma.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I heard Daniel Dubois also pulled out, maybe Moses Itauma can step in.
Somehow I doubt Fabio Wardley would accept that, he doesn't seem to be that good in the first place, the referee already had to safe him in his fight against Parker and probably doesn't want to fight Moses Itauma.

What? Since when?

[SeanBrennan]

I sincerely hope this is rumour

[joshj909]

I heard Daniel Dubois also pulled out, maybe Moses Itauma can step in.
Somehow I doubt Fabio Wardley would accept that, he doesn't seem to be that good in the first place, the referee already had to safe him in his fight against Parker and probably doesn't want to fight Moses Itauma.

No way does a champion take a short notice fight against someone from their own gym. Logistical nightmare

[gilgamesh]

JARED ANDERSON SUFFERS TORN BICEP, SOLOMON DACRES FIGHT SCRAPPED

Heavyweight contender Jared Anderson has suffered a torn bicep and is unable to move forward with his fight against Solomon Dacres on May 9.

The 10-round bout between Anderson (18-1, 15 KOs) and Dacres (10-1, 3 KOs) was supposed to take place on the undercard of Fabio Wardley's WBO heavyweight title defense against Daniel Dubois at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England, on DAZN.

News of Anderson’s injury was revealed by reporter Chris Mannix during Saturday's broadcast of Jarell Miller vs. Lenier Pero.

Anderson, a 26-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, signed a co-promotional deal with Queensberry Promotions in March, joining the UK-based promoter’s loaded heavyweight roster. Anderson has also been tied to Top Rank since making his pro debut in 2019.

Anderson hasn't fought since his 10-round unanimous decision win against Marios Kollias in February 2025. It was Anderson's first fight since getting stopped by Martin Bakole in five rounds in August 2024.

This sh*t right here is why all of these guys need to fight more than once a year. Your body eventually fails you and you CAN'T fight, whether you'd like to or not.

Athletics is one of them things you better get while the getting is good. The body doesn't hold up to that sorta stuff forever.

[Ruthless-RKO]

News: Per source, a deal is in place for light heavyweight contender David Morrell to face Zak Chelli in a 10-rounder on Queensberry’s #WardleyDubois card on May 9 in Manchester #boxing



At 178 pounds.

[881073]

I heard Daniel Dubois also pulled out, maybe Moses Itauma can step in.
Somehow I doubt Fabio Wardley would accept that, he doesn't seem to be that good in the first place, the referee already had to safe him in his fight against Parker and probably doesn't want to fight Moses Itauma.

What? Since when?

Maybe it's just false info, I hope it's false.

[KiwiRider]

This better be on!
It's the first decent HW fight of the year.
Can anyone confirm the status?

[JC]

This better be on!
It's the first decent HW fight of the year.
Can anyone confirm the status?

That video is junk. Ignore it.

[joshj909]

This better be on!
It's the first decent HW fight of the year.
Can anyone confirm the status?

They've just replaced the co-main. I don't think they would be doing that if the main is off

[KiwiRider]

This better be on!
It's the first decent HW fight of the year.
Can anyone confirm the status?

They've just replaced the co-main. I don't think they would be doing that if the main is off

That was also the reasoning I had.

It's just the late pull out of the Parker fight that niggles me.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fabio Wardley urges Daniel Dubois to 'get stuck straight into a firefight' in their WBO heavyweight world title clash


Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois are both heavy punchers and good finishers; they box for the WBO heavyweight world championship in Manchester next month; Wardley wants to turn their title clash into a tear up from the very start, promising he'll be "letting the guns go"

Fabio Wardley has called for Daniel Dubois to make it “a firefight” straightaway when they box for his WBO heavyweight world title next month.

Wardley puts his championship on the line against former world titlist Dubois in Manchester.

Dubois is known for his tremendous punching power. He was the last man to beat Anthony Joshua, knocking out the heavyweight star when they clashed at Wembley Stadium in 2024.

Since then Dubois lost the IBF title to Oleksandr Usyk but will be looking to become a two-time champion when he fights WBO boss Wardley on May 9.

Wardley is a finisher himself, notably when stopping Justis Huni late on and Frazer Clarke early in their rematch. He beat Joseph Parker last year too and is now the WBO heavyweight world champion.

He intends to take the fight to Dubois from the first bell. "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."

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘I’m not here for easy fights’: Fabio Wardley says it’s his character to take toughest challenges available

Fabio Wardley defends his heavyweight belt against Daniel Dubois in a surefire action fight.



Here’s some excerpts of what he had to say below.

Wardley on being a world champion
“It feels great. It’s nice, but also it’s just a title. Like, don’t get me wrong, that’s not to take away from it in the slightest, at all. But it is just a title. There’s a bit of me that is — obviously being called a world champion and a feeling there of it — but unfortunately having to miss the moment of being crowned in the ring, holding the belt up, hearing ‘and the new’ and all that, does take away slightly. And, again, that is no disrespect to the world title in and of itself.”

On why fighting Dubois was the right choice for his first title defense
“There are easier, but what for? For what? I looked at the list of heavyweights, them top guys in the world, and you look at the top echelon — I call them the big three, your Fury, your Usyk, your AJ — those things for whatever reason are unavailable. Okay, who’s under that? To me, was Daniel Dubois. And I was like okay, if he’s the next best one then that’s the one we’re going after…I pick the best guy out there.

“I’m not here for easy fights. I know myself and I know my character and I would actually be disappointed in myself because I would know ‘I picked that fight because it’s easier’…That’s not me, one as a person, but two as a fighter.”

On if he learned anything about himself in the Parker fight
“It really solidified to me that I’m meant to be here. I was in that fight and I didn’t feel out of my depth, at all. I felt comfortable…I was in the fight thinking ‘hang on, I don’t feel like I’m fighting for my life here, like I’m surviving, just trying to make it through’…I felt like if he’s second best in the world or however you want to rank him, if I’m going toe to toe with him and feeling fine with myself, where does that put me? So, yeah, it just really kind of nailed down to me that I’m meant to be there, at the top end of the division.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Bakhodir Jalolov next fight: Will he remind us of his promise on May 9?

Not so long ago, boxing fans in the know predicted Bakhodir Jalolov would be the heavyweight up-and-comer to take the baton from the leaders and run with it.

The two-time Olympic medalist was wowing in the vested code to such an extent, in fact, that plenty were predicting it would only take him few years here in professional boxing for the old guard to not just hand him a baton, they'd also be running for cover. Things haven't quite worked out that way for "The Big Uzbek".

On the May 9 undercard of the WBO heavyweight title clash between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois, at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, Jalolov will get a chance to remind us all what the fuss was about when he's matched with unheralded Croatian southpaw Agron Smakici, a 35-year-old southpaw with a 21-3 (19 KOs) record.

That Smakici, who has been stopped inside five rounds by each of Agit Kabayel, Artem Suslenkov and Zhan Kossobutkiy, is deemed a worthwhile foe for someone like Jalovov should only highlight further that things haven't quite gone to plan for the 6'7" southpaw.

Some might say that Jalolov's joint ventures in amateur and professional boxing, two very different codes, prove why it's generally best - if you want to be the best - to focus only on one task at at time. Jalolov, now 31, actually made his pro debut eight years ago - before he'd picked up either of his Olympic gold medals. His form of late, being taken the full distance (10 and eight rounds respectively) by Ihor Shevadzutskyi and Vitaly Kudukhov, only highlighted how far behind the leaders he remains.

All is not lost for Jalolov, 16-0 (14 KOs), however. He's ranked in the top 10 by three of the four sanctioning bodies, is still unbeaten, and a big performance againt Smakici, on a big heavyweight bill, could see him restore his place in the heavyweight pecking order. Should he be extended again by a man who has a habit of being knocked out in his sternest tests, however, and more of the old believers might be forced to admit they were wrong.

Also on the undercard is David Morrell, one of the world's leading light heavyweights, who takes on Zak Chelli in a curious fight that has a certain Jai Opetaia vs. Jack Massey/Ellis Zorro/Jordan Thompson ring to it. In the same division, Liam Cameron fights Bradley Rea, which like Morrell-Chelli, is set for 10 rounds while at junior welter, Jack Rafferty and Ekow Essuman collide in an intriguing domestic dust up and Khaleel Majid will be tested by the ever-trusty Gavin Gwynne.

[joshj909]

I like that he's going to appear on a relevant card with other relevant heavyweights but he needs to step up a level from Smakici pretty fast.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Daniel Dubois has all the tools to easily beat Fabio Wardley but he won't use them, says former trainer

mer trainer of Daniel Dubois, Shane McGuigan, today explained why his former charge is going to run into serious trouble when he challenges Fabio Wardley for the WBO heavyweight title on May 9.

Dubois, 22-3 (21 KOs), worked with McGuigan for four fights (stoppage victories over Bogdan Dinu, Joe Cusumano, Trevor Bryan and Keven Lerena) before they parted company in 2023 ahead of Dubois' first defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.

Dubois' form since has for the most part been impressive. While training under Don Charles, Dubois lost to Usyk before going on a destructive run - stopping Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua - that saw him rejuvenate both his career and his reputation. However, he went on to lose a rematch with Usyk in his most recent action, last July.

The 20-0-1 (19 KOs) Wardley, like Dubois, is one of the division's premier knockout artists. However, he can be outboxed for significant chunks of his fights. Frazer Clarke held him to a 12-round draw (before being blasted to a one-round defeat in the immediate rematch) and both Justis Huni and Joseph Parker were leading on the cards at the time of being stopped late by the Englishman.

McGuigan, who still works with Daniel's sister Caroline Dubois, outlined what kind of fight it's likely to be at Manchester's Co-op Live arena while also revealing how easy it could be for Dubois - if he only listened to instructions.

"I think it benefits Fabio Wardley if they're having a shootout," McGuigan told Sky Sports.

"I could be sat right in front of Daniel and tell him, 'box his ears off and just use your jab', because Daniel has the fundamentals. He's got the feet, he's got great balance, he's an amazing athlete, he's got a phenomenal jab which is more powerful than his right hand; it's ridiculous, it's like a horse hitting you every time. But he will not listen. Tell him to just use his jab and make it boring. [He will then think] 'I'm going to go for it.' That's the truth.

"The biggest problem with this fight is Daniel's mindset. If he can get it into his head that he has to box and make it, not boring, but just win it on the jab, he wins the fight very comfortably. But he will not; he will go straight for him and that means he'll either knock him out or get knocked out."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Zak Chelli explains how he snared showdown with David Morrell

Zak Chelli has promised to make the most of his unlikely shot against Cuban light-heavyweight star David Morrell.

Morrell, who had been due to face Callum Smith earlier this month until the Liverpool veteran was forced to withdraw with an injury, now fights Chelli on May 9 in Manchester on the undercard of Daniel Dubois’ challenge of WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley.

Chelli is 16-3-1 (8 KOs) and, after losing a decision to Callum Simpson in Barnsley in August 2024, returned to stop Adam Hepple via 10th round stoppage last June.

Now he has the formidable task of facing Morrell, who is 12-1 (9 KOs) and who, in his last three fights, has fought Radivoje Kalajdzic, David Benavidez and Imam Khatev.

“Once we heard that David Morrell, his fight with Smith [was off], and Smith had to pull out because of injury, my dad went crazy on social media and started saying, ‘Give him to my son, give him to my son, my son’s the best super middleweight, the best light heavyweight in Great Britain…’ And then a week after that, we got a phone call from management saying, ‘Listen, we can make this fight happen.’ They want it as well. So that was three weeks ago. “And it was like, cool, we’ve asked for it. Let’s do it.”

While Chelli has plenty of respect for Morrell, he is also confident in his own abilities and is certain he will give a good account of himself in Manchester.

“He’s a former super middleweight world champion, he’s young, he’s the same age as me, 28. He’s had an impressive career, impressive amateur career. He’s got a big team behind him. But he’s a southpaw, he’s got good footwork. But of course, styles make fights, and I believe my style is great for me against him.”

[joshj909]

I think the Dubois Vs Wardley result could trigger a lot of fights.

If Dubois wins then we could realistically get Dubois Vs Itauma for the WBO, as well as Gassiev Vs Miller for the WBA Regular, as well as two of Jalolov/Okolie/Hrgovic/Wilder/Vianello for an IBF eliminator.

If Wardley wins then we could get Wardley Vs Hrgovic for the WBO, Gassiev Vs Itauma for the WBA Regular or Itauma Vs Jalolov/Okolie/Wilder/Vianello for the IBF eliminator.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[CaptainSpacerod]

[paultom]

no chance this will be a snoozefest

[Fearful_Freddie]

This will be violent. Fabio will bring the pain but no idea which version of Dubois will show up.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is this sold out?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Undeterred despite setbacks, Ekow Essuman locks in on Jack Rafferty

For a long time, Ekow Essuman ruled the British welterweight scene.

Nicknamed "The Engine," because of his non-stop work rate, solid chin and underrated boxing skills, was too much for a lengthy list of younger, ambitious fighters and an unattractive proposition for more established names.

Saturday, Essuman (22-2, 8 KOs) faces Jack Rafferty (26-0-1, 17 KOs), a former British and Commonwealth junior welterweight champion, at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena. The fight is the chief support to the WBO heavyweight title fight between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois streamed on DAZN PPV.

In October, Essuman lost to Jack Catterall, but even at 37 he's still driven by becoming the best.
"I wasn't The Man because I haven't got what I want yet," he told The Ring.

"People can have their own reservations about things but I will be The Man. That's the nice thing about it. It will be nice when everyone sees me be The Man.

"You can't cook in a kitchen without hot grease. Diamonds get made under pressure. If you came this far just to give up, then what were you doing it for? I've always said to people, 'Chuck me to the lions and I'll come back with the lion's mane.'

"I've never said I'm going to get a world title and it's going to be easy, but I have said I'm going to get a world title. Keep tuning in and watch the journey."

The spotlight has found Essuman at a relatively late stage of his career, but his relentless style has finally made him an attraction. Last May, he traveled to Scotland and outhustled Josh Taylor over 12 rounds to bring the curtain down on the former undisputed junior welterweight champion’s outstanding career.

That win earned him a fight with The Ring's No. 10 welterweight in Catterall, and a showcase spot on the Chris Eubank Jr-Conor Benn II undercard.

Things didn't go to plan. Essuman boxed with his usual determination, but Catterall produced his best performance for some time and scored an 11th-round stoppage.

Essuman has been in this situation and knows what it takes to rebuild. In November 2023, his long run as domestic champion was ended by Harry Scarff and he had to plot a route back to contention.

He is once again refusing to shrink quietly away.

"That night taught me at the higher echelon, at that level, there's high-level tricks that you can play and the you have to have that high-level counter for those tricks or the way people box, the things they do that the ref should tell them off about, how it plays and how to counter that," he said of the fight with Catterall.

"I learned my lesson and I only learn lessons once. Now it's time to put them into practice."

Essuman is ready to employ some of those new skills against Rafferty this weekend.

"I'm going to have a lot of those waiting for Jack."
Essuman chose to fight Rafferty.


He also received an offer to fight Conah Walker, former British and Commonwealth welterweight champion, but was unhappy with it. Essuman pivoted and accepted a fight with Rafferty, whose 140-pound domestic reign was characterized by his own relentless pressure fighting and thudding, heavy punches.

Taking on a fighter as well-regarded at British level as Essuman in his 147-pound debut is a solid statement of intent from Rafferty. Essuman is determined to make sure that it is looked back on as a big mistake rather than an inspired piece of matchmaking.

"Who knows if it was not a great time for him to stay at 140?" he said. "If he felt it was the right time to move up to 147? What I know is that the fight was trying to be agreed for a 10-rounder and I said, 'No, if you're going to fight me it's going to be 12.' If you want to come into my house, come into my territory, you've got to play my games."