Daniel Dubois has come in at a career-heavy weight for his world title fight against Fabio Wardley this Saturday night. The heavyweight hard-hitters will trade leather in front of a sold-out Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, with Wardley putting his WBO heavyweight strap on the line.
Weigh-In Results
Dubois, known as 'Triple D', weighed in at 251.7lb, nearly 10lb more than his official weight for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. Champion Wardley tipped the scales at 242.2lb. The Ipswich scrapper won the interim prize in October after stopping Joseph Parker in the 11th round, and was later elevated to full champion after Usyk vacated the belt.
Verbal Sparring
Prior to their face-off in a unique dark cauldron setting, the pair exchanged words. Wardley said: "It's not an easy night's work by any means. But I am not known for picking an easy night's work, I am known for picking the biggest challenges." Dubois countered: "I am ready to seek and destroy. I am ready to turn up. I am on it."
Wardley questioned Dubois's mentality, referencing his previous fights: "You take Usyk for example, he has not done well. You take the Kevin Lerena fight, he did not do well in that one either. He took knees without being touched." Dubois remained focused, replying: "The talking is done now, I am just ready for war."
Tensions Boil Over
Tensions escalated after Wardley suggested Dubois would be "a bin man" if not a boxer. At the pre-fight press conference, Dubois warned: "I heard you called me the 'dust man' and I am going to collect the trash, boy. I am going to burst his bubble." Wardley clarified: "I did not call you the 'dust man'. Someone asked me what you might do as a job, and I said 'he might be a bin man'. There was nothing negative about that."
Dubois, desperate to become a two-time world champion after losing his IBF belt to Usyk at Wembley, added: "I am going to show up. He is facing Daniel Dubois. Let's see what he has got."
