“He got the better of me.”
— Fabio Wardley & Daniel Dubois describe sparring one another years before big heavyweight bout
Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois fight in an all-British banger for the WBO heavyweight world title at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester atop a Queensberry Promotions card on DAZN from May 9.
It’s an unlikely battle for both men as Wardley was once a ‘white-collar (unlicensed)’ fighter, which is a completely separate scene more akin to Misfits than the amateur ranks, and Dubois has routinely been cast aside by the boxing industry, and misjudged as a quitter after he took a knee against both Joe Joyce, and Oleksandr Usyk.
But, in early May, both fighters get to prove the naysayers wrong by competing on the biggest stage, on the brightest lights, for a legitimate piece of the heavyweight championship.
For many, it could prove to be a chance at seeing fresh blood compete in an era that has been dominated for years by an older guard of Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and, of course, Usyk.
But for Wardley and Dubois it will be nothing they haven’t seen before.
Particularly as they both confirmed to Ade Oladipo that they sparred long ago.
It was “a long time ago,” according to Wardley. “Seven years,” he added. “Eight years, maybe.”
“It went well but in the early days he got the better of me, I will say that.”
— Fabio Wardley
“I got no problem with that, whatsoever.”
