NO MORE EXCUSES: WHY DANIEL DUBOIS MUST PROVE HIS MENTAL TOUGHNESS AGAINST WARDLEY
Is Dubois ready for Wardley? Discover why Frank Warren is demanding control and the latest on Don Charles' return to the corner.
Daniel Dubois’ main problem against Oleksandr Usyk was control. That’s what he needs to fix if he wants any chance of beating Fabio Wardley.
Back in August 2024, Dubois faced Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title at Wembley. He showed up just 90 minutes before his ringwalk, way after Usyk had already settled in. Sure, the fifth-round knockout stung, but honestly, the chaos before the fight said just as much. When a fighter’s environment falls apart, so does the fight. That night, Dubois’ camp looked anything but organised.
Frank Warren put it simply: “That can’t happen again.” He told Sky Sports he was “tearing my hair out” over the late arrival – pretty blunt for a promoter right before a big fight. When the people running the show admit something went wrong, you know it did. They needed to make changes.
This time, Dubois and his team are keeping things tight. Warren confirmed they’ll stay in a Manchester hotel for the Wardley fight, cutting down on distractions and locking in the logistics. Dubois has also gone back to Don Charles after a short stint with Tony Sims, choosing stability and someone he trusts over more guesswork. Right now, he needs things simple and solid.
Now he’s facing Wardley, who doesn’t waste time. Wardley’s undefeated, throws a ton of punches, and turns up the heat early. If Dubois hesitates, Wardley will catch it and punish it. There’s no hiding from uncertainty in this matchup. Dubois will have to show, right away, that he’s ready.
The fight’s set for May 9 in Manchester, with the WBO heavyweight title on the line. After Wembley, Dubois gets another shot at the top. He’s called the Usyk loss a lesson and promised not to repeat the same mistakes. But talk is cheap. We’ll see if he’s really changed if his team’s prepared, if he shows up ready, and if everything around him is locked down when the pressure hits.
Manchester will tell the story. If Dubois comes in calm and focused, people will notice. If the same old mess shows up, the problem won’t be with his boxing; it’ll be about control. And in heavyweight title fights, that’s usually what decides who walks away with the belt and who goes back to chasing.
THE ZUFFA ERA: DANA WHITE'S $15M CONOR BENN DEAL SHAKES THE BOXING WORLD'S FOUNDATION
Big money move: Discover why Conor Benn left Matchroom for a $15M Zuffa deal to fight Regis Prograis at Tottenham Stadium.
Conor Benn is set to face Regis Prograis as the main undercard for Tyson Fury’s fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Ben just left Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn behind, signing instead with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. The deal? A jaw-dropping $15 million for just one fight. Everyone figured this meant Benn would finally make his American debut, but, surprise, his first fight with Zuffa will actually be in the UK.
So, “The Destroyer” is stepping into the ring with former WBA super-lightweight champ Regis Prograis, all as part of the Fury vs. Makhmudov card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11. This fight’s basically the co-main event, right before Fury’s big heavyweight return.
Benn can’t wait. “April 11th can’t come soon enough,” he said. “Going back to Tottenham, where I made history against Eubank Jr, means everything to me. My last fight there showed the world exactly who I am. Biggest stages, biggest shows. I fear no one. I’m locked in. Ready to make another statement.”
White’s Zuffa Boxing is running the show, teaming up with Ring Magazine to promote the event.
Prograis is just as fired up. “Last time I fought in London, Conor Benn was on my undercard. Now here we are, full circle. But this time, I’m teaching him a lesson. He’s not facing some weight-drained super middleweight. I’m in shape, and I’m winning this one.”
Why are Benn and Prograis fighting at all? It’s caught plenty of people off guard, since Benn seemed to be aiming for a WBC 147 lbs title shot. He was supposed to be pushing for a fight with Ryan Garcia, who just became champion, or maybe even a huge showdown with Shakur Stevenson, one of boxing’s best right now.
Instead, Prograis got the nod. He’s moving up to 147 lbs. Last time he fought in the UK, he lost to Jack Catterall in 2024, but bounced back with a win over Jojo Diaz. Benn heads into this fight with a ton of momentum after knocking out Chris Eubank Jr in their grudge match last November. Plus, this new TKO/Saudi deal is paying him big.
As for Benn’s split from Eddie Hearn? It’s all about money. Hearn, who stood by Benn through the mess of his failed drug test, found out Benn was leaving via text. He saw it as a slap in the face, but Benn says the offer was just too good to turn down. He’s not ruling out working with Matchroom again someday, but for now, Dana White’s calling the shots as Benn steps back into the spotlight under Fury’s comeback.
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.
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