Daniel Dubois vs. Fabio Wardley set for WBO heavyweight title in May
A former champion gets a chance to get his title back against a tough champion
www.cbssports.comHere’s the latest on Wardley vs Dubois:
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The title fight is set for May 9, 2026, at the Co-Op Live in Manchester, with Fabio Wardley defending the WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois. Wardley is coming off late-round stoppages to defend his belt after winning the interim/unified status earlier in 2025. [Source: CBS Sports article announcing Wardley vs Dubois for the WBO title in May][1]
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A separate live updates context confirms ongoing media and promoter activities around the bout, including press conferences and weigh-ins leading up to fight night, and is widely covered by boxing outlets and broadcast partners. DAZN and other boxing outlets have live blogs and preview content for the event. [Source: DAZN live blog/live updates][5][7][9]
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Pre-fight analysis and odds suggest Wardley enters as the defending champion with Dubois aiming to reclaim world heavyweight glory, highlighting Wardley’s late KO wins as part of his championship arc and Dubois’ history of comebacks and power. Odds and predictions are reported by outlets like The Independent and CBS Sports. [Source: Independent odds/preview piece][3][1]
Illustration: Expected match dynamic
- Wardley often uses late-round rallies to seal fights, so Dubois will likely pressure early and seek a stoppage before or around the middle rounds.
- Wardley’s recent KO wins in late rounds imply he can finish strong if Dubois cans under sustained pressure.
If you’d like, I can pull a concise summary of key quotes from the latest press conference and compile a matchup-ready one-page briefing with current odds, recent form, and potential ring tactics. I can also add a quick comparison table of the fighters’ notable stats and recent performances.