Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois are finalizing a deal for a WBO heavyweight title fight on May 9 in Manchester, England, sources told The Ring. The all-British showdown would mark Wardley’s first defense of the WBO heavyweight title. Which capped a meteoric rise for the unbeaten contender, who enters 2026 as The Ring’s No. 1-ranked heavyweight.
Wardley, 31, is coming off a career-defining campaign that vaulted him into boxing’s heavyweight elite. In June, he scored a dramatic come-from-behind 10th-round knockout of Justis Huni. Before delivering his most complete performance to date an 11th-round TKO of former champion Joseph Parker.
The run earned Wardley (20-0-1, 17 KOs) finalist honors for The Ring’s Fighter of the Year. While the Parker victory was also considered for Upset of the Year.
Following that win, the WBO ordered Oleksandr Usyk. The Ring heavyweight champion and pound-for-pound No. 1, to defend his title against Wardley. When Usyk vacated the belt, Wardley was elevated from interim champion to full WBO titleholder.
Dubois Gets Another Title Shot
Wardley’s first defense is expected to come against fellow Brit Daniel Dubois. The Ring’s No. 3-ranked heavyweight and a former titleholder. Dubois, 28, is coming off his second defeat to Usyk, a fifth-round knockout loss in June at Wembley Stadium. Despite that setback, Dubois remains one of the division’s most dangerous punchers.
His career-best victory came in September 2024, when he stunned Anthony Joshua with a fifth-round TKO at Wembley a win that briefly made him the IBF heavyweight champion after Usyk vacated that title under similar circumstances. Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) also holds stoppage wins over top contenders Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic, underscoring his reputation as a high-risk opponent for anyone in the division.
DAZN first reported the May 9 date, with Manchester expected to host one of the biggest heavyweight fights on British soil this year. If finalized, Wardley vs. Dubois would not only crown a definitive WBO champion but also position the winner for a potential mega-fight later in 2026 possibly even a collision with Usyk should the Ukrainian reclaim the title picture. For now, it’s a rare case of timing, rankings, and momentum aligning and a heavyweight title fight that feels earned rather than manufactured.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
