Promoter Frank Warren has added some extra expectation on the already highly anticipated all-British heavyweight world title fight between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois.
Wardley will make the first defense of his WBO heavyweight world title against former IBF title holder Dubois at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester live on DAZN this Saturday.
Both men have displayed some impressive performances of late, although both head into the bout in contrasting circumstances. Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) comes to Manchester having been elevated to WBO champion last November following three straight stoppage victories against; Frazer Clarke, Justis Huni and Joseph Parker. While Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) comes off a devastating fifth round knockout loss to Oleksandr Uysk in front of 90,000 people at Wembley Stadium last July. Although he had previously secured three consecutive stoppage victories over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua.
Warren has compared the upcoming contest to one of the most famous fights in the entire history of boxing in Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns.
“This could be Britain’s answer to Hagler-Hearns,” Warren told The Stomping Ground.
Hagler and Hearns’ IBF and WBC middleweight world title fight on April 15, 1985, saw the two men have a phone box style brawl, with Hagler ultimately securing the third round knockout.
“I was actually at [that fight], which was phenomenal,” Warren continued. “For the short period of time it lasted it was just all action. They could have had a fight in a telephone-box. No holding, just throwing big punches. Any finesse was thrown out of the window! It was all about power and I think it was brilliant. That’s what I think this heavyweight fight will be.”
