Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois are finalizing a deal to fulfill in a WBO heavyweight title fight on May 9 in Manchester, UK, sources told The Ring’s Mike Coppinger. Yahoo Sports first reported the date, with the bout now moving toward the sort of late-stage paperwork phase that typically precedes an official announcement, ticket on-sale, and full undercard rollout.
‼️ Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois are finalizing a deal for a WBO heavyweight title fight on May ninth in Manchester, UK, sources tell The Ring’s @MikeCoppinger.
Yahoo Sports first reported the date. pic.twitter.com/KUtwcHfqbj
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) February 10, 2026
If it lands as expected, it’s a large leap into the deep end for Wardley—one which mirrors the fashionable British heavyweight fast track: sell a constructing, beat the fitting names, then jump straight to the world level. Wardley has built momentum the hard way, pairing an unbeaten record with the sort of fights that reveal temperament as much as skill. The upside is apparent: he’s big, confident, and improving, with a crowd-friendly style that turns minor swings into major moments. The chance is just as clear: the world-title tier punishes defensive lapses, especially against a puncher who doesn’t need many openings.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED‼️
FABIO WARDLEY KNOCKS JUSTIS HUNI OUT!! 😱🤯#WardleyHuni | Live Now on DAZN pic.twitter.com/57HyKhYNaI
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 7, 2025
Dubois, meanwhile, brings the sort of heavyweight threat that changes the maths of each round. He’s still young for the division but already battle-tested, and he fights with a directness that could make even cautious opponents look hurried. Against Wardley, Dubois’ pressure and body work figure to be central, because forcing an even bigger man to reset—and to do it repeatedly—has a way of exposing where a fighter’s composure really lives. Wardley’s task, if the fight is made, might be to win minutes without gifting moments.
Manchester is a fitting stage: a fight city that understands heavyweight nights and doesn’t require much coaxing to get loud. May 9 also places the bout in a major spring window for UK boxing, where one stadium-grade event can reshape the pecking order. For Wardley, it’s a probability to convert domestic buzz into global consequence; for Dubois, it’s a chance to secure a defining win and leave little question about his place among the many division’s most dangerous operators.