‘The three of us are the next’: Fabio Wardley on Dubois, Itauma and boxing’s heavyweight future

Briton, who defends his WBO title against Daniel Dubois, talks Fury-Joshua, doping and his punditry sideline “The only expectation I have is that it will end in a knockout,” Fabio Wardley says cheerfully as he looks ahead to his dangerous first defence of the WBO world heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on Saturday night. “Don’t Blink” is the promotional tagline for a battle between two powerful yet vulnerable heavyweights and, for once, this is less boxing bluster than reasonable advice for anyone watching a fight which could be the most dramatic heavyweight contest this year. Wardley and Dubois are devastating punchers who also often look at risk of losing. Dubois has been beaten three times in 25 fights while dispatching his other opponents with brutal efficiency. Two years ago, the unbeaten Wardley came close to defeat against Frazer Clarke in their first fight, which ended up being a draw after a damaging bloodbath for both men.

Interview Donald McRae Briton, who defends his WBO title against Daniel Dubois, talks Fury-Joshua, doping and his punditry sideline “T he only expectation I have is that it will end in a knockout,” Fabio Wardley says cheerfully as he looks ahead to his dangerous first defence of the WBO world heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on Saturday night. Wardley and Dubois are devastating punchers who also often look at risk of losing. Dubois has been beaten three times in 25 fights while dispatching his other opponents with brutal efficiency. Two years ago, the unbeaten Wardley came close to defeat against Frazer Clarke in their first fight, which ended up being a draw after a damaging bloodbath for both men. A former white-collar boxer , with little amateur experience, Wardley always seems able to find a way to win.

Wardley will also voice growing concern about doping but, first, he examines Dubois’ psychological frailties. “It’s a matter of character,” Wardley says. In the Justis Huni fight it wasn’t going my way at all. I was still going after him and hunting him, albeit getting tagged. I’m obviously so much better now but he’s also got bigger and stronger.” Wardley also concedes that Dubois shocked him when he knocked out Joshua in 2024.

But it’s heavyweight boxing, where anything can happen.” It surprised some that Wardley chose the hard-hitting Dubois as his first defence but, even before he beat Parker, he had told me that he really wanted to fight Usyk. But Usyk, who was the undisputed champion, chose to relinquish his WBO title rather than face Wardley. “It’s the conclusion for that era of boxers,” Wardley says. But at the moment I would probably lean towards Tyson Fury.” I’m more interested in Wardley and, especially, Itauma, the brilliant 21-year-old heavyweight prodigy . The three of us are the next fighters to lead heavyweight boxing.” Wardley watched Itauma break down the tough American Jermaine Franklin in five rounds in March.

It’s a moot point at the moment.” Doping presents a far more tangible worry for Wardley – particularly after it emerged, a few weeks after his 11th-round stoppage of Parker, that his New Zealand rival had tested positive for a prohibited substance in a sample taken by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agen Briton, who defends his WBO title against Daniel Dubois, talks Fury-Joshua, doping and his punditry sideline “The only expectation I have is that it will end in a knockout,” Fabio Wardley says cheerfully as he looks ahead to his dangerous first defence of the WBO world heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on Saturday night. Wardley and Dubois are devastating punchers who also often look at risk of losing. Dubois has been beaten three times in 25 fights while dispatching his other opponents with brutal efficiency. Two years ago, the unbeaten Wardley came close to defeat against Frazer Clarke in their first fight, which ended up being a draw after a damaging bloodbath for both men. ‘The three of us are the next’: Fabio Wardley on Dubois, Itauma and boxing’s heavyweight future