Could a highly anticipated all-British heavyweight title fight be heading our way? The boxing world is buzzing with the prospect of Fabio Wardley defending his WBO belt against Daniel Dubois. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has shared his candid thoughts on this potential showdown, and it's got everyone talking!
Fabio Wardley, the fan-favorite from Ipswich, certainly made waves when he pulled off a stunning upset, defeating Joseph Parker in October to snatch the WBO Interim title. With Oleksandr Usyk vacating the full WBO strap, Wardley was rightfully elevated to full world champion. Now, the 31-year-old sensation is eager to prove his mettle as a legitimate titleholder and kickstart his reign with a bang.
It appears Wardley has found his perfect dance partner in Daniel Dubois, a former IBF heavyweight champion who last fought Usyk in July. Reports are suggesting this massive clash is on the cards.
But here's where it gets controversial... Eddie Hearn, speaking with iFL TV, believes Dubois might be making a rather naive decision by jumping straight into another world title fight. Hearn explained that from Dubois' perspective, after a significant payday, the allure of a less challenging comeback fight might not be as appealing. "I think sometimes that is a little bit of a poor decision," Hearn mused. "The last time Daniel Dubois fought was July, against Usyk, that was now eight months ago. So, if he fights in May, he is going to have been out of the ring for 10 months after getting knocked out."
And this is the part most people miss... Hearn elaborated on Dubois' mental game: "Daniel Dubois is the kind of guy where, if he has any doubts in himself or if he is not 100% confident, he is much easier to beat than the flip side of that." This suggests that Wardley's team might see a psychological edge.
Hearn then delved into why he thinks this matchup plays into Fabio Wardley's hands stylistically. He predicts that if Wardley can weather an initial storm, he has the tools to systematically break Dubois down. "Daniel Dubois hits really hard, he can take anybody out or hurt anybody early but if you get past two, three or four rounds with him and you start making him second guess himself, you can break him down real quick," Hearn stated. "I think that Wardley and his team will look at that fight and say ‘that is a good fight for us’."
The Wardley-Dubois bout is reportedly being eyed for Manchester on Saturday, May 9th. Interestingly, on the same date, Usyk is rumored to be in talks for a surprising bout against Dutch kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, though it's unclear if Usyk's three heavyweight world titles would be on the line.
So, what do you think? Is Daniel Dubois making a mistake by facing Wardley so soon after his loss? Or does he have the power to silence Hearn's predictions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your take on this potential heavyweight barnburner!
