The pair will fight at Manchester's Co-op Live on May 9 , with the latter mounting the first defence of his crown against the ex-IBF champion.

Sharply dressed a few feet apart, the pair oversaw a lively launch conference with Queensberry Promotions boss Frank Warren between them.

As the pair posed at the conclusion of the press event, however, Wardley saw his offer of a fist-bump turned down by his rival after formalities.

Both men praised each other's reputations for over half an hour, frequently waylaid by their managers, Michael Ofo and Sam Jones.

But Wardley and Dubois were also emphatic in their belief that they will knock the other one out when they step into the ring in a few months.

The former earned his crown after taking Joseph Parker's interim strap last October, before Oleksandr Usyk vacated the full crown a month later.

"I'll flatten Daniel, clean him out, wipe him out, leave him there," Wardley promised. "I don't need daring. I'll do it on my own. It's no bother to me.

"You've seen me before. You know me, you know how I fight, my heart. I'll walk into the centre of the ring and [he] will take the first step back."

Dubois, meanwhile, returns for the first time since a brutal five-round loss to Usyk at Wembley Stadium ended his reign as IBF heavyweight king.

"I'm full of confidence, raring to go," he added. "I'm going to take his [zero]. I'm going to be the first man to do it. Victory by any means necessary."

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