Fabio Wardley to defend WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on May 9
Fabio Wardley defends his WBO world heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois at Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester on Saturday May 9; Wardley makes the first defence of his WBO belt against British rival Dubois; The winner could line up a world title fight against Tyson Fury later this year
Friday 13 February 2026 19:05, UK
Fabio Wardley will face Daniel Dubois in an all-British world heavyweight title fight on Saturday May 9.
WBO champion Wardley makes the first defence of his belt against Dubois in a clash between two destructive punchers at The Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester.
Wardley was crowned as the new WBO king in November after unified champion Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt instead of making a mandatory title defence against the Ipswich fighter.
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Tyson Fury has admitted that he would be open to a world title fight against Wardley later this year, but firstly the unbeaten 31-year-old must defeat Dubois.
Wardley said: "I've never been in this game to mess around or play small. Big fights only!
"I'm the champion, this is a voluntary defence. I picked him.
"One thing you can't say about me is that I've ever shied away from a challenge. I've always continuously picked the biggest challenges out there. I'm not scared of any man in this division.
"This is one of the biggest fights out there now that could of been made in the heavyweight division.
"With me you're always guaranteed an all-action fight, but this one is going to be fireworks from the first bell."
Mike Ofo, Wardley's manager, said: "This is a huge moment - a massive all-British clash, and I expect Fabio to break Daniel Dubois' spirit on May 9th.
"Fabio has never ducked a challenge, he welcomes the competition."
Dubois is aiming to become a world champion after his reign as IBF title holder was ended by a knockout defeat to Usyk in their Wembley rematch in July.
After defeat in that undisputed world title fight, Dubois split from trainer Don Charles but he has now returned to the cornerman ahead of an explosive encounter with Wardley.
All of Wardley's wins have come by knockout since his professional debut and any debate about his draw with Frazer Clarke was swiftly silenced by a whirlwind first-round stoppage win in their rematch in October 2024.
Since then Wardley has boosted his reputation with a dramatic one-punch knockout of Justis Huni and a stunning 11th-round stoppage of Joseph Parker to claim the WBO interim title in October.
Dubois had also been on a red-hot run prior to last year's Usyk defeat as he demolished Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic before a career-best knockout win over Anthony Joshua in September 2024.
