A highly anticipated heavyweight title clash between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois has been officially confirmed by Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions. The electrifying bout is set to take place on May 9 at the state-of-the-art Co-op Live arena in Manchester, marking a significant event in British boxing history.

Fabio Wardley, boasting an impressive professional record of 20 wins, no losses, and one draw, with 19 knockouts, will be making his inaugural defence of the full WBO heavyweight title. Wardley was elevated to the status of full WBO champion in November, following a decisive victory over Joseph Parker in October. His journey to this point has been described as extraordinary and inspiring, consistently proving doubters wrong by stepping up to bigger challenges and delivering under pressure.

Challenging Wardley will be Daniel Dubois, who enters the ring with a record of 22 wins and 3 losses, including 21 knockouts. Dubois is eager to rebound from his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last summer. This fight presents a momentous opportunity for Dubois, as he aims to become a two-time heavyweight champion, having previously held the IBF title. At just 28 years old, this will be Dubois' sixth world title fight, a remarkable achievement in itself, with his only world title defeat coming against the formidable Usyk.

Frank Warren expressed immense enthusiasm for the matchup, stating, "This is another piece of British heavyweight history being made." He further emphasized the fight's significance, calling it "quite simply the most exciting and explosive fight available for Fabio's first defence of his WBO world title, and it tells you everything about him that this is the fight he demanded." Warren lauded both fighters, highlighting Wardley's consistent performance against the odds and Dubois' remarkable attempt to secure a second world title at a young age.

Wardley himself echoed the sentiment of ambition and challenge, asserting his commitment to "big fights only." He declared, "I'm the champion, this is a voluntary defence, and I chose this. I'm not about to win a world title and then take easy fights or hide away with it." Wardley underscored his reputation for seeking out the toughest tests, stating, "One thing you can't ever say about me is I've shied away from a challenge. I've always gone looking for the biggest tests, and I'd back myself against anyone in this division." He believes this is "one of the biggest fights that can be made in the heavyweight division right now" and that it "sells itself," promising "drama and entertainment" and "fireworks" from the opening bell.

Prior to this confirmation, Wardley had expressed interest in fighting Oleksandr Usyk, a bout that ultimately did not materialize. He had also engaged in social media call-outs with Tyson Fury, who is scheduled to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov in April. These prior discussions underscore Wardley's consistent pursuit of top-tier competition, culminating in this high-stakes encounter with Daniel Dubois.