Former Deontay Wilder trainer Malik Scott believes Fabio Wardley should be viewed as the favorite heading into his upcoming WBO heavyweight title fight against fellow Brit Daniel Dubois.
Daniel Dubois will be the underdog when he meets Fabio Wardley for the WBO heavyweight title on May 9 in Manchester, according to former Deontay Wilder trainer Malik Scott. Scott sees the belt holder as the man to beat in an all-British matchup that could reshape the upper tier of the heavyweight division.
That assessment carries extra weight because the winner figures to move closer to the center of the post-Usyk heavyweight picture, with several major names still jockeying for position. In a division that has lacked clarity outside the very top, a convincing win here could quickly turn into a much bigger opportunity.
“You have to pick Wardley. But Dubois went back to Don Charles, and I think that was the right move for him,” Scott said. “Yes, they lost to Usyk, but you can’t read too much into that. Usyk didn’t just completely destroy him.”
Scott also pointed to Wardley’s mentality as a major reason he likes the champion in this matchup. From his perspective, Wardley’s willingness to take on one of the most dangerous available challengers right away says plenty about where he is mentally and competitively.
“The fact that Fabio wanted to fight Daniel says a lot about his character, because he’s not hanging onto the title and hiding with it. He’s ready to risk it right away. There were no easy fights, no tune-up. Wardley wants Dubois right now,” Scott said. “I know Fabio always says yes to the biggest challenges on the biggest stages. He deserves credit for that. I think Dubois will be the underdog.”
For Wardley, this is a chance to prove his title win was the start of something real, not a single breakthrough moment. For Dubois, it is about showing he can still force his way back into the championship conversation against a dangerous, confident titleholder in front of a high-pressure home crowd. Manchester should give the fight a big-fight atmosphere, and if the action matches the stakes, the winner will leave with far more than just a belt to defend next.
