The former will make the first defence of his WBO crown against the latter, a onetime IBF champion - but neither will enjoy home advantage here.

Ipswich-born Wardley enjoyed a memorable homecoming last year when he scored a come-from-behind win over Justis Huni at Portman Road.

Dubois meanwhile has made his last two stands in the proverbial back yard at Wembley Stadium, against Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.

The Ring

This time however, both men will head north, with Manchester's Co-op Live set to host its largest bout yet in front of an anticipated bumper crowd.

Opened in 2024, the 23,500-capacity venue is the largest indoor venue in the country, able to put more bums on seats than London's The O2 Arena.

Its path to become the newest home of British boxing has not been a foregone conclusion however - and there have been some bumps along the way.

Ahead of a super-clash set to rewrite the heavyweight division, DAZN News looks back at the story of Co-op Live, and how it came to be so loved.

From a tortured development and teething problems...

Announced in 2020, Co-op Live was intended to offer a second enormo-dome venue for Manchester, to compete with the city's existing AO Arena.

Built on the Etihad Campus, opposite Manchester City's Etihad Stadium, it attracted funding from City Football Group and pop star Harry Styles.

Designed, in part, to replicate the First Direct Bank Arena in neighbouring Leeds as a music-first establishment, it also laid out its sporting credentials.

But various construction issues delayed delivery of the project - and when it finally came to be opened in April 2024, it failed to launch on time there too.

Shows from Peter Kay, Olivia Rodrigo, Keane and The Black Keys were all shafted, with any plans to take boxing beneath its roof delayed for some time.

Eventually, the squared circle made its way for a hometown show headlined by Jack Catterall the following October, where the star beat Regis Prograis.

Yet even then, there were still spectres that lurked across the project, and when Tommy Fury pulled out of January's X Series 020, it was a further blow.

Darren Till dispatched Anthony Taylor in his absence, but it felt as if Co-op Live was yet to truly achieve take-off as a major destination for fight fans.

... to a celebrated destination and beloved favourite

That all changed in February 2025 though, when Queensberry Promotions brought Derek Chisora up to Manchester for his reported British farewell fight.

The cult favourite outgunned Otto Wallin across a bruising, bloodied slugfest that caught the eye of many at home - and impressed those at the venue.

One week later, Catterall lost his WBO interim super-lightweight bout with Arnold Barboza Jr., in front of another box-office crowd thrilled by the facilities.

From craft ale bars to breakout spaces, the arena experience was handed a lick of paint by Co-op Live, with supporters responding with their feet to follow.

Nathan Catantan

Joe Joyce and Filip Hrgovic clashed in April, before a lengthy wait unfolded for Joshua Buatsi and Zach Parker's domestic dust-up this past November.

But the decision was unanimous. Co-op Live had helped establish its credentials - and Queensberry responded by booking it for two mega-cards in 2026.

Moses Itauma will face Jermaine Franklin in a postponed event this March, before Wardley and Dubois make their dance in May to decide who is king.

They're the tip of the iceberg for a venue that's sure to pull some of the biggest nights back time and again. The fans can't wait to go one more time.

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