Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois are set to collide in one of the most anticipated British heavyweight clashes of the year. Wardley will put his WBO heavyweight title on the line for the first time on May 9.
Ahead of the showdown, Oleksandr Usyk has revealed who he believes will come out on top between the two knockout punchers.
The matchup has already generated major attention across the boxing world, with several high-profile names sharing predictions for the fight. Now, Usyk has also weighed in with his pick.
Usyk picks Wardley to win
Usyk was recently interviewed by BBC Sport, where he was asked about his verdict on Wardley vs Dubois. He emphasised that he is supporting the reigning WBO heavyweight champion heading into the matchup.
“I think Wardley win,” Usyk said.
The unified heavyweight champion also explained that his support goes beyond boxing ability, praising Wardley personally.
“I want Fabio win because I think he deserves to win this fight,” he added.
Usyk then described the British heavyweight as someone he genuinely likes.
“Good guy – I like him.”
Oleksandr Usyk is backing Fabio Wardley to beat Daniel Dubois on Saturday night.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 8, 2026
Will the winner fight the Ukrainian? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/M0ihNZ95Of
The heavyweight showdown continues to generate strong reactions across the boxing world due to the aggressive styles and knockout records of both fighters. They engaged in heated verbal jabs during the press conference.
Dubois faced Usyk last year at Wembley Stadium. He got stopped in the fifth round and lost his IBF heavyweight title.
Wardley enters the fight unbeaten with 19 knockouts in 20 victories, while Dubois carries a record of 22 wins with 21 stoppages.
During the official weigh-in, Dubois came in at 251.7 pounds, while Wardley weighed 242.2 pounds ahead of their clash.
Usyk’s team opens door to future Wardley fight
Ahead of Usyk’s upcoming title defense against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at Pyramids of Giza, the Ukrainian champion’s team has already started discussing potential future opponents.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Usyk’s team manager Sergey Lapin suggested that Wardley could eventually become a realistic option if he secured a dominant victory against Dubois in an impressive way.
“If Fabio Wardley proves himself at the highest level, he can definitely become part of that conversation,” Lapin said.
Wardley has rapidly emerged as one of Britain’s most talked-about heavyweights following a series of dramatic victories and knockout performances.
He secured a tenth-round knockout victory over Justis Huni, and following that, he stopped Joseph Parker in the 11th round to capture the interim WBO heavyweight title, which was later elevated to full champion when Usyk vacated the belt.
His unbeaten run, comeback wins, and growing popularity have already earned praise from several major figures in boxing.
Now, Usyk’s camp has also acknowledged his rise.
Before a potential Usyk showdown, Wardley needs to overcome the challenge against knockout artist Dubois, who has vowed to put the champion to sleep on Saturday night at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
