Fabio Wardley insisted he belongs at heavyweight boxing’s top table irrespective of the outcome of his world title fight against Daniel Dubois in Manchester.
Wardley is the modern-day Cinderella Man, rising from the white-collar ranks with no amateur background all the way to being crowned WBO champion at the back end of last year after 21 professional fights.
He had an astonishing 2025, knocking out the highly-rated Justis Huni when he was trailing on the scorecards before stopping former world champion Joseph Parker in an upset in another barnburner.
Fabio Wardley, left, makes the first defence of his WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois (Cody Froggatt/PA) (Cody Froggatt)
The 31-year-old makes the first defence of his crown this weekend against former sparring partner Dubois and is in no doubt he is among the elite level of fighters in boxing’s blue riband division.
“If I go against Joseph Parker and lose at that stage of my career, I’m not regarded as someone that can mix it with the best,” said Wardley (20-0-1, 19KOs).
“Whereas coming through Joseph Parker and winning, it’s on my record. Win or lose to Daniel, you can’t say I don’t deserve to be in with those top fighters because one way or another, I am.”
The pair have clashed over an off-the-cuff remark Wardley made that his rival would be a bin man if he were not a boxer, with Dubois subsequently vowing to “take out the trash” this weekend.
“I couldn’t really find a career path for him,” said Wardley with a shrug. “I’m open to suggestions if anyone thinks he’s got a career path in the making somewhere else, I’m just not sure I see it.”
Wardley’s career path is on an upward trajectory, one which he hopes leads to Oleksandr Usyk, who vacated the WBO strap last November rather than make a mandatory defence against the Ipswich fighter.
Facing the Ukrainian, who will take on kickboxer Rico Verhoeven this month in Egypt, is still top of Wardley’s wish list, even if he were offered either of compatriots Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury.
“Usyk is still number one for me,” added Wardley. “If you laid out all three of those guys as an option, Usyk would always be top of the tree because he is undefeated, he is the one running the game.”
Dubois, who has cut a brooding figure in fight week and walked out of two separate interviews, has twice lost to Usyk, with the Londoner poleaxed in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium last July.
Dubois was knocked out in his last fight (Bradley Collyer/PA) (Bradley Collyer)
The 28-year-old came under scrutiny amid reports a party had been held at his house on the afternoon of the fight, with something similar happening before his win over Joshua in September 2024.
However, after splitting with then rehiring Don Charles as trainer, Dubois (22-3, 21KOs) has been immediately thrust back into the deep end as he tries to become a three-time world champion.
“I can’t let myself down or my team down and this is the time to dig deeper than ever before,” said Dubois. “I feel like the luckiest guy in boxing. It’s just one (world title fight) after the other.
“I’ve got to go back to the drawing board and come again. I feel like we’re going to get it right this time though, with the training and how everything is going to be perfect, I just have a feeling.”
