Fabio Wardley's first defence of WBO heavyweight title confirmed ... - DAZN
Fabio Wardley will make the first defence of his WBO heavyweight title against former IBF champion Daniel Dubois in Manchester this May.
www.dazn.comHere’s the latest on Dubois vs Wardley:
- The bout is set for May 2026 in Manchester, with Fabio Wardley defending the WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois. This match-up was confirmed in February 2026 and scheduled as an all-British heavyweight clash.[1][2][3]
- Event details circulated around a late spring date, with reports indicating live viewing on DAZN platforms in various regions, and the venue identified as Co-op Live in Manchester for at least one announced date.[2][3]
- Media coverage highlighted Wardley’s rise to full WBO champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated, and noted Dubois’s pursuit of another world-title bid following his loss to Usyk, framing this as a high-stakes British heavyweight showdown.[3][1]
- Additional angles in coverage included press conferences and fighter interviews signaling anticipation of a knockout-heavy contest, and several outlets listed the fight among prominent UK heavyweight title defenses of 2026.[4][9]
Illustration: a head-to-head poster would typically show Wardley as champion with a title belt and Dubois as challenger, both in aggressive stances, with Manchester skyline and the fight date/venue featured prominently.
If you’d like, I can pull the most up-to-date official promo material or compile a quick fact sheet (date, venue, TV channel, ticketing) and cite the sources.