Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois hit the scales Friday for this weekend’s heavyweight showdown.
Ahead of Saturday’s WBO heavyweight title fight at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, Wardley weighed 242.2 pounds and Dubois 251.7 pounds.
This was the heaviest of Dubois’ career, comfortably surpassing the 243.8-pound mark he weighed in against Oleksandr Usyk last July.
Daniel Dubois weighed in at 251.7 pounds for his heavyweight fight against Fabio Wardley, the heaviest he has been in his career.
Wardley and Dubois are both serious punchers with knockout rates of 95%. Each intends to bring their power to this fight, with Dubois saying at the weigh-in that they are “ready to seek and destroy.”
Meanwhile, Wardley said: “I hope he’s in the best shape of his life. I want to give the fans a great night and I hope he is too.”
Promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports before the fight: “Both guys walk forward, they’re both throwing bombs so you know it’s going to be exciting.”
Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois weigh in ahead of heavyweight showdown
He believes it will be one of the great three-round fights, a heavyweight version of Marvin Hagler vs. Tommy Hearns.
“As soon as the bell rings, I think it will happen. That’s the way they fight,” Warren said. “They’re both going to come forward, they’re not going to go backwards.
“I’m sure this battle will be a gunfight.”
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Daniel Dubois says he’s going to “collect trash” after Fabio Wardley said in a social media interview that he could imagine Dubois being a trash can collector if he wasn’t a boxer.
Punching power could be ‘his biggest weakness’
Shane McGuigan, who previously trained Daniel Dubois, warned that his punching power could actually get him into trouble.
McGuigan told Sky Sports: “I think Daniel is the better boxer, I think he’s a more well-rounded fighter. He has better balance, a better jab, better fundamentals. He’s been boxing for a lot longer. They’re both great athletes, they’re both great punchers.”
“But Daniel will probably try to knock him out. And that’s the worst thing you can do against Fabio Wardley, because he’s most dangerous when he’s injured, when he’s attacked. He always has the chance to be a phenomenal puncher.”
“I think the longer they’re in there, the more aggressive Daniel is, the more likely he is to get knocked out.”
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Daniel Dubios says he is ready for a WBO heavyweight title showdown with Fabio Wardley as he aims to become a two-time world champion.
McGuigan would advise Dubois: “Make him boring. Keep him jabbing. If you’re going to nail him, nail him, but stay smart, because this guy can’t beat you in a boxing match.
“People don’t realize how good Daniel’s jab is and how much he can control the fight with his feet and jab. He can certainly control the fight with Fabio Wardley with his feet and jab.”
But McGuigan said, “Daniel is a natural puncher, so he always wants to knock someone out. But I think that’s his biggest flaw and he might end up going for the shot.”
“I think he’ll win on points, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets one point.”
