Fabio Wardley is gearing up for the first defense of his WBO heavyweight title as he prepares to face Daniel Dubois at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on May 9.
The bout headlines a highly anticipated card, with both heavyweights bringing significant knockout power into the contest. Between them, Wardley and Dubois have recorded over 40 knockouts, adding to expectations of an explosive main event. The fight has been labeled ‘Don’t Blink’, underlining the anticipation of a potential early finish.
Fans have shown strong interest not only in the headline clash but also in the depth of the undercard, which features a mix of rising prospects and established domestic names.
Wardley vs Dubois undercard takes a hit with Jared Anderson’s injury
However, just weeks before fight night, the event suffered a significant setback.
Highly regarded American heavyweight Jared Anderson was originally scheduled to face Sol Dacres in a notable co-promotional bout between Queensberry and Top Rank. The fight was expected to add further intrigue to the card.
However, Chris Mannix of DAZN during the broadcast of Jarrell Miller vs Lemier Pero reported that Anderson has now been ruled out due to a bicep tear, dealing a blow to the event’s heavyweight lineup. The injury continues a challenging run for the American, who has fought just once since his knockout defeat to Martin Bakole in 2024.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether Dacres will stay on the card with a replacement opponent or if the bout will be removed entirely.
Wardley vs Dubois fight time, broadcast and full card details
Despite the setback, the main event remains firmly intact and continues to generate excitement.
While official timings have not yet been confirmed, the undercard is expected to begin at around 5pm BST, with main-event ring walks likely to take place at approximately 10pm BST.
The event will be broadcast live on DAZN pay-per-view, with fans able to tune in for what promises to be an action-packed night.
Other fights on the card are Jack Rafferty, who is set to move up in weight to face Ekow Essuman at 147lbs, while Liam Cameron takes on former European champion Brad Rea in a light-heavyweight contest.
In another intriguing matchup, unbeaten Khaleel Majid will face experienced former British and Commonwealth champion Gavin Gwynne, providing a stern test for the rising prospect.
With both Wardley, who got promoted to the full champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt in November, and Dubois, known for their aggressive styles and knockout power, the headline clash has all the ingredients of a high-impact heavyweight encounter.
With a mix of rising prospects and established domestic names, the Manchester card offers a blend of development fights and high-stakes competition.