According to Derek Chisora, whose backstage reports are often confirmed, it is expected that Fabio Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) will meet Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) in the first defense of his WBO heavyweight title. “Let me tell you this. Daniel will fight Fabio. Don't tell anyone,” Chisora said in an interview with Seconds Out.
This information was also confirmed in an interview with Sky Sports by Wardley's manager Michael "Magic" Ofo: "As for Daniel Dubois, it is clear that Fabio would be very happy about such a fight. There's nothing better than a purely British showdown for the world heavyweight title!".
Wardley won the WBO title without a fight when Oleksandr Usyk vacated it. Previously, the Briton held the WBO trophy on an interim basis. In his last fight, Dubois lost the IBF belt to Usyk.
