An highly anticipated all-British heavyweight world title clash is set to take place on May 9 in Manchester, as Fabio Wardley prepares to defend his WBO heavyweight world title against Daniel Dubois. This electrifying bout, confirmed by sources to ESPN, has been moving quickly since talks began last week, though an official announcement is still pending.

The news of this significant contest was initially reported by Ring Magazine on Tuesday afternoon. Both Wardley and Dubois operate under the banner of Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions, setting the stage for an internal battle among stablemates. The fight gained momentum following recent calls from Dubois on social media, where he directly challenged Wardley, urging him to "sign the contract."

Fabio Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) enters this defense as the full WBO heavyweight champion, a status he achieved after securing an 11th-round knockout victory over Joseph Parker in October. That win initially earned him the WBO interim heavyweight title, and his subsequent elevation to full champion now sets up this pivotal first title defense against a formidable challenger.

Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) is eager to rebound from a tough period in his career. His last outing saw him suffer a brutal knockout loss to the then-undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk last summer, a defeat which cost him his IBF title. In a twist of fate, Usyk later vacated the WBO title, which Wardley now holds, adding an extra layer of intrigue to Dubois' quest for redemption and a world title.

This Manchester showdown promises to be a thrilling encounter, pitting two of Britain's most exciting heavyweight prospects against each other with a world title on the line, and offering Dubois a crucial opportunity to reassert himself at the elite level of the sport.