Fabio Wardley has a big year ahead and has now been called out to face a former heavyweight champion.
Wardley came from behind on the cards twice in his last two fights to win. Both times, he pulled big shots out late on, first to stop Aussie Justis Hunt, and then last time out to KO the in-form New Zealander Joseph Parker.
That fight was for a mandatory shot at WBO ruler Oleksandr Usyk, though the Ukrainian decided to vacate and has since called out American puncher Deontay Wilder.
The move meant that Wardley, who famously has no amateur background and instead came through the white-collar boxing ranks, was promoted to full WBO champion.
He will be looking to make some big defences of his belts this year, and speaking to iFL TV, Daniel Dubois’ manager Sam Jones explained that he is keen to see his man take on the WBO ruler.
“I’d love to make the fight with Wardley. This is the thing, Fabio Wardley is the champion so it would be a voluntary defence but again outside of ‘AJ,’ Tyson Fury, Usyk, Dubois is the biggest name for Fabio Wardley to fight which would therefore generate the most money.
“If Fabio gets the Usyk fight then all credit to him, Fabio deserves that opportunity, but outside of those names that I’ve mentioned, Daniel Dubois is the biggest name so if he wants to make that fight we can make it very, very quickly.”
Dubois has not fought since he was knocked out by Usyk back in July, though a year before that he got a huge KO victory over Joshua. He will be looking to recapture that form in 2026 and remind fans that he has plenty left to give the sport’s top division.
