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Boxing
Will living on the edge finally catch up to Fabio Wardley?
Wardley vs. Dubois: Only on DAZN PPV - May 9
If there's anything we've learned from Fabio Wardley's impressive run, it's that he keeps finding a way.
He was being thoroughly outboxed against Justis Huni in their June 2025 battle, before uncorking a massive right hand that rendered the Australian knocked out in the 10th round.
Four months later, Wardley again found himself trailing on the scorecards, only to outlast and out-slug Joseph Parker toward a rousing 11th-round TKO in becoming the WBO interim heavyweight titleholder. (He was then elevated to full status champion).
On Saturday night, at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England, and live on DAZN, Wardley will defend his title against former heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois. The question is: Will living on the edge finally catch up to Wardley?
Wardley vs. Dubois is aptly billed as “Don’t Blink,” considering each man touts a 95 percent knockout rate. We could easily see either win by a devastating KO.
But what if the bout goes into deeper waters than expected? How many times can Wardley play with fire and not get burned?
I watched him fall behind against Huni as the Australian brilliantly used spacing and sweet science ability to outbox Wardley, building a cushion of rounds — and boxing ability — that separated them.
When Huni made the error to punch in traffic with Wardley, though, the latter pounced. Somehow, some way, he was able to detonate a right hand from the heavens, leaving Huni flat on his back in a heap. Huni slowly turned to his hands and knees, but couldn’t beat the count.
The dynamic knockout was something out of a Hollywood script and just gave more credence to how a heavyweight tilt can whittle down to one punch.
Though Wardley started off hot against Parker, even rattling the former heavyweight world champion early, he found himself in a familiar position late — trailing on the scorecards.
Once again, Wardley had to dig deep. He somehow found the mettle — and motor — to put together a barrage of punches to stop an exhausted Parker.
If he falls behind against Dubois, can Wardley yet again conjure up a rally?
Throughout this run, the 31-year-old Ipswich man has demonstrated that he has some engine on him. Even when sputtering late, Wardley is able to deliver just enough firepower to rev into the winner’s circle. That, and he's leaving his opponents on empty. He left Parker gassed out and could render Dubois the same.
Many oddsmakers are slightly favoring Wardley to defend his title this weekend. He put together his best and most complete boxing performance against Parker, but still needed to rally.
Perhaps this will mark the time that living on the edge finally catches up to Wardley. If he finds himself trying to mount a comeback, Dubois certainly has the explosive punching power to negate any rallying efforts.
Or Wardley will yet again summon a comeback that leaves us astonished.
By now, we shouldn’t even be surprised.
Watch Wardley vs. Dubois only on DAZN
The WBO world heavyweight title is on the line for Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois this Saturday, May 9, only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with the Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23), Fury vs. Hall (June 13) and Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27) PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
