Fabio Wardley will defend his WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on Saturday, May 9. The unbeaten 31-year-old makes the first defense of his belt against British rival Dubois in what promises to be a explosive clash between two destructive punchers.

Wardley captured the WBO crown in November when unified champion Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt rather than face the Ipswich fighter in a mandatory defense. The winner of this bout could line up a world title fight against Tyson Fury later this year, with Fury admitting he would be open to facing Wardley. This marks a significant step up for both fighters in their quest for heavyweight supremacy.

Dubois, who previously held the IBF title before losing to Usyk in their Wembley rematch, has returned to trainer Don Charles after that defeat. Wardley's manager Mike Ofo expects his fighter to "break Daniel Dubois' spirit" on fight night, while former British and Commonwealth champion David Price believes Wardley is currently the No. 1 heavyweight in Britain. Both fighters enter on impressive winning streaks, setting the stage for what could be the biggest all-British heavyweight showdown in years.