THE SHORTLIST REVEAL: WHY FABIO WARDLEY SNUBBED HRGOVIC AND ANDERSON FOR DANIEL DUBOIS
Boxing news: Wardley vs Dubois. Get the report on failed Fury talks and Wardley’s plan to exploit Dubois’ "weak spots."
Fabio Wardley had four names in front of him for his first WBO world heavyweight title defence, and he chose Daniel Dubois.
Now, Wardley and Dubois are set to square off in Manchester on May 9. It’s Wardley’s first fight since he was officially named the full world champion; he earned that by dramatically stopping Joseph Parker at the O2 back in October.
Before all this, both Wardley and Parker were hoping to land a shot at Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight king. The plan? Whoever won their fight would take on Usyk in a massive four-belt showdown. However, Usyk then decided to relinquish the red and gold strap, leaving Wardley feeling pretty gutted.
He said he felt “robbed” of his big moment; he never got to hear his name called as the full champion in the ring. That’s the kind of thing fighters dream about. But he’s got another shot at that feeling now, this time against Dubois, who’s a former IBF heavyweight champ himself.
Originally, Wardley was deep in talks to defend his title against Derek Chisora. That fight didn’t pan out; he ended up choosing a bout with Deontay Wilder instead. Wardley also had some quick back-and-forth with Tyson Fury’s camp, but Fury wanted a warm-up fight before anything serious. So, when Wardley got a list of four names, he picked Dubois.
“The Chisora thing was close for a bit, but you know how he is,” Wardley told reporters on Wednesday. “What he wanted and how we wanted it – nothing lined up, so we moved on.”
He said talks with Fury went nowhere fast: “It was just me putting it out there, saying, ‘If you want it, I’m here.’ But he wanted a tune-up, so that was that.”
Then came the shortlist. Alongside Dubois, there were Filip Hrgovic, Jared Anderson, and Nelson Hysa. Wardley saw Dubois as the clear pick.
“I picked him because he’s the most dangerous one,” Wardley said. “Where am I going to get the most credit? What’s the best fight? From a fan’s view, Wardley vs Dubois just stands out. People will be excited about that. Those are the fights I want.”
He made it clear: he doesn’t want to be known for easy fights. “I want people to know, when Fabio Wardley steps in, it’s never going to be a walkover. I’m here for real fights, real challenges. I want to be value for money.”
This fight’s being billed as “Don’t Blink", and for good reason. Both Wardley and Dubois have a 95 per cent knockout ratio. Dubois has only lost three times: twice to Usyk and once to Joe Joyce. Wardley’s never lost, but he did have a draw with Frazer Clarke in March 2024.
Wardley told talkSPORT he thinks Dubois has a weak spot: he lacks creativity with his punches, and Wardley plans to exploit that. Dubois, though, is betting on his power. He’s convinced he’ll be the first to knock Wardley out cold.
May 9 at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, two British heavyweights, both with something to prove. It should be some night.
WHY LAWRENCE OKOLIE’S HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH WITH TONY YOKA FACES SUDDEN CANCELLATION
Lawrence Okolie returns an adverse finding on a VADA test. We break down the fight cancellation, injury explanation, and the fallout.
Lawrence Okolie, the former cruiserweight world champion, was set to face Tony Yoka in Paris this past Saturday as part of his ongoing move into the heavyweight division. However, things took a turn when the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) notified his promoter, Queensberry, about an adverse finding from a recent drug test conducted ahead of the event. Queensberry stated that further details about the situation and the fight would be released in due time.
In response, Okolie took to social media to explain the circumstances surrounding the test. He mentioned that after dealing with a bicep injury last year, he sustained an elbow injury on the same arm during this training camp. He had undergone treatment for it, which he suggests might be related to the test results. Okolie expressed hope that reason would prevail and assured that he would fully cooperate with any investigations, confident they would eventually clear his name. At this moment, he chose not to comment further but thanked his supporters and promised to return soon.
Looking back, Okolie and Yoka both competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, though in different weight categories. While Okolie didn’t secure a medal, Yoka won gold in the super-heavyweight division, beating Joe Joyce in a final that sparked some controversy. Okolie went on to claim the world cruiserweight title before losing to Chris Billam-Smith three years ago. Afterwards, he captured the WBC bantamweight title with a knockout against Lukasz Rozanski, a belt that doesn't carry much prestige, before moving up to heavyweight. Before the planned bout with Yoka, Okolie had stopped his previous three opponents.
When the fight was first announced, Okolie reflected on his progression through the weight classes. He found it tough to make weight at cruiserweight and bridgerweight, but at heavyweight, he feels stronger, more explosive, and comfortable. With the fight about eight or nine weeks away, he was confident he could get into great shape. Candidly, he called this opportunity his Olympic gold medal fight, since he never had the chance to win one at the actual Games. He acknowledged Yoka’s experience and skill but believed the momentum was shifting in his favour, implying he’s ready to take things to the next level in his heavyweight journey.
DISCOVER: WILL XANDER ZAYAS RETIRE IF HE LOSES TO JARON ENNIS IN NEW YORK?
Xander Zayas vs Jaron Boots Ennis, Barclays Centre boxing, June 2026, Zayas vs Ennis tickets
Xander Zayas and Jaron "Boots" Ennis are about to clash in what’s shaping up to be one of the biggest U.S. boxing matches this summer.
Zayas puts his unified WBA and WBO super welterweight titles on the line against Ennis, the former WBA and IBF welterweight champ. Ennis is making a run at world titles in a second weight class, which just adds another layer to this fight.
Ennis was originally set to face Vergil Ortiz Jr. That matchup had everyone talking, but things fell apart over a purse dispute. Ortiz Jr's manager, Ricky Mirigan, wasn’t happy with the offer, and drama erupted when Ortiz Jr sued his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, claiming breach of contract and “interference with economic advantage". De La Hoya fired back, countersuing Mirigan for allegedly meddling with Ortiz Jr.’s contract behind the scenes. With lawsuits flying, the fight crumbled, and Ennis moved on. Now he’s set to face Zayas for two of the four major belts in the division.
Zayas and Ennis meet on Saturday, June 27, at Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York. Expect the main event ring walks around 10 p.m. EDT, which is 3 a.m. GMT for UK fans tuning in overnight.
The undercard details are still a mystery, but we do know Ben Whittaker is making his first U.S. appearance on the show.
Both fighters aren’t shy about their ambitions. Zayas said, “It’s always been about legacy – becoming the youngest world champion at 22, the youngest unified champ, and now taking on one of the best in my division. Anyone can chase easy wins, but I want to fight the best. I want to prove I’m the best every time I get in the ring. That’s exactly what I’m going to do on June 27.”
Ennis didn’t hold back, either: “I think Xander’s bitten off way more than he can chew. Come fight night, he’ll figure that out. I’m going to show everyone I’m the best in the world. Watching me is one thing, but once you’re in the ring, it’s a whole different story. I’m faster than he thinks and stronger, and I have a better boxing IQ. He’s in for a long night.”
