FABIO WARDLEY VS DANIEL DUBOIS TIPS: HEAVYWEIGHT FIREFIGHT IN STORE
WBO world heavyweight champion Fabio Wadley puts his title on the line as he faces Daniel Dubois in one of the most anticipated fights of the year.
A victory for Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) would potentially carry him one step closer to a potential undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk. But first he must see off the dangerous Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) who is seeking to become a two-time champion.
These two might have debuted on the same evening way back in April 2017 but their boxing stories could not be more different.
Wardley’s rise from late starter with zero official amateur pedigree and white collar bouts to world champion is Rocky-esque; Dubois, the elite amateur who won ABAs and would’ve been an Olympian but for turning pro instead, has already conquered the world and lost it again.
It’s one of the biggest British fights of the year and we’ve put together a few markets that catch the eye just for the occasion…
FABIO WARDLEY VS DANIEL DUBOIS: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Fight date: Sat 9th May
- Expected ring walk: 21:30 BST approx
- Venue: Co-op Arena, Manchester
- Titles/weight: WBO heavyweight world championship
- How to watch: DAZN
- Records (W-L-D, KOs): Wardley 20-0-1, 19 KOs / Dubois 22-3, 21 KOs
- Match market: Click here
Tip 1 – Under 5.5 rounds @ 2/1
Backing under 5.5 rounds feels like the classic “don’t overthink it” punt.
Between them, the pair have racked up 40 knockout wins and neither man is built to coast through cautious, tactical rounds.
Wardley has stopped 19 of his 20 victories, including a notoriously brutal early finish against Frazer Clarke, while Dubois carries explosive one-punch power that flattened Anthony Joshua and has produced 21 stoppages in 22 wins.
The styles are made for bedlam.
Wardley loves a firefight and often takes risks to land his own shots, while Dubois is at his most dangerous when he starts fast behind the jab and lets the right hand go.
There is a bit of genuine bad blood between the two sparring partners as well as genuine pressure; two heavyweights who know a statement stoppage could set up the next mega-fight in the division.
This one may go early.
Tip 2 – Over 1.5 knockdowns @ 7/5
For the same reasons we think this fight won’t make it past the halfway point, over 1.5 knockdowns in the fight looks a very good bet at attractive odds.
There may be some tentative probing in the opening round as both men find their range but it shouldn’t take too long for it to become bombs away.
Dubois has never been past a 10th round in his career, while 19 of Wardley’s 20 victories have come via stoppage.
While both are durable, both also boast impressive power. There could be plenty of canvas time for each.
Tip 3 – Fabio Wardley to win @ 5/6
Wardley loves a bit of chaos.
The Ipswich heavyweight thrives in messy, explosive fights and has built a reputation as one of Britain’s most dangerous finishers. Against Dubois, that matters.
Dubois can dominate when, or if, he settles behind the jab yet he has also shown vulnerabilities when dragged into wild shootouts. Wardley will believe he can force exactly that kind of fight sooner or later.
Expect Wardley to try to box a bit early on, ultimately looking to close the distance and test Dubois’ chin on the inside.
If Dubois slows or begins to back up, Wardley is the type to jump all over him.
The longer the fight turns into a war, the more it favours the Suffolk man’s grit and aggression.
A mid-round stoppage feels the most likely outcome, with Wardley overwhelming Dubois in a firefight rather than outboxing him over 12 rounds.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change