Wardley v Dubois is bout of uncertainty far more interesting than Fury v Joshua

"Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley are very different characters but, in the ring, they share a knockout ratio of 95% in the combined 42 fights they have won. The unbeaten Wardley has knocked out 19 opponents in his 20 victories while Dubois has stopped 21 of 22 vanquished rivals. It's an impressive statistic which belies the vulnerability at the heart of each man."

"Wardley, the WBO world heavyweight champion, comes from a white-collar boxing background with minimal experience as an amateur. The only blemish on his record is a draw in March 2024 with the Olympic medallist Frazer Clarke who he then knocked out with shocking brutality in the first round seven months later. But Wardley was also comprehensively outboxed by Justice Huni last summer before rescuing himself from a shutout defeat by separating the tricky Australian from his senses in a dramatic 10th round."

"Dubois, meanwhile, has suffered three losses, to Joe Joyce and twice to Olekansdr Usyk, the best heavyweight on the planet. Each time he has come back from a crushing defeat with renewed determination but a fourth setback on Saturday night would be a serious blow to the complex Dubois who, in contrast to his concussive force as a knockout merchant, cuts a strangely reticent figure outside the ring."

"The 28-year-old Dubois has lived much of his life beneath the shadow of his father, Stan, who home-schooled the boxer and his siblings. Dubois still lives with his dad known to many as Dave and they were both criticised for holding a party in the family home hours before he was knocked out by Usyk last July. In the messy aftermath Dubois left his trainer, Don Charles, who had been quietly sceptical of the revelry before such an important world title fight."

Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley have combined knockout success in 42 wins, with a 95% knockout ratio. Wardley, the WBO heavyweight champion, has 20 victories with 19 knockouts and an otherwise strong record that includes a draw with Frazer Clarke before a first-round knockout. Wardley has also been outboxed by Justice Huni, then recovered by stopping Huni in the 10th round. Dubois has 22 wins with 21 knockouts but has three losses, including defeats by Joe Joyce and twice by Oleksandr Usyk. After losses, Dubois has returned with renewed determination, while his personal life and training changes have drawn criticism and scrutiny.

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