Fabio Wardley v Daniel Dubois: How to watch the big fight on Virgin TV

Pop quiz: which country has produced the most world heavyweight boxing champions? Well, it’s the USA of course, but next on the list? Britain. From Bob Fitzsimmons back in the late 19th century to modern superstars like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, the UK has an incredible tradition of heavyweights conquering the world.

Fabio Wardley was the most recent addition to the pantheon of champions when he claimed the WBO world title in 2025 – but he didn’t do it in the ring. The Suffolk fighter held the belt on an interim basis and was elevated to full champ when Oleksandr Usyk confirmed he was vacating the title. Now Wardley has the chance to establish his credentials with a defence of the belt. And wouldn’t you know it, the challenger is British too.

Daniel Dubois actually became a world champ before Wardley, having followed a similar path: the interim IBF champ, elevated when Usyk vacated. But Dubois had the opportunity to defend his title and did so in style, knocking out Joshua in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium. That earned him a shot at Usyk, which he lost.

Now he’s gunning to be a world champ again as he takes on Wardley – the first time two British heavyweights have fought for a world title since Fury v Derek Chisora in December 2022. And you can see this mouthwatering fight live from the Co-op Arena in Manchester on DAZN with Virgin Media, starting at 6.30pm on Saturday 9 May. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this explosive night of boxing, including how to purchase the fight.

Wardley was a late starter in boxing. While many top pros have risen through the junior and amateur ranks, he didn’t don the gloves until he was 20 and that was for white-collar bouts while working as a recruitment consultant in his home town of Ipswich. But since turning pro in 2017, he’s proved his ability time and again. The only fight he didn’t win was a draw against Frazer Clarke, and in the rematch he wasted no time in knocking out the Olympic medallist in round one.

His punching power is simple awe-inspiring – every win except his very first has come via knockout. When he won the WBA interim belt against Justis Huni, Wardley was behind on all the judges’ cards when he produced a phenomenal overhand right in the 10th round. The Australian wasn’t coming back from that. In his last fight, he entered the ring against the experienced former world champ Joseph Parker and smashed the New Zealander into submission with a stunning display of force.

Now the 31-year-old has the chance to put in another eye-catching performance in Manchester – and lay down a marker for the whole division.

Like Wardley, Dubois also turned pro in 2017. He was 19 and it meant missing out on the chance of Olympic glory in Tokyo but it paid off as he rampaged through the heavyweight ranks, winning English, British, Commonwealth and European titles as well as the WBC International belt. However, he came up short in a bruising encounter with fellow Londoner Joe Joyce that left him with facial fractures and nerve damage.

It took a while to come back, but Dubois eventually claimed the WBA Regular title, which gave him a shot at Usyk, the unified champ. The fight ended in controversy when Usyk was given extra time to recover from a punch that was ruled a low blow, which Dubois disputed. However, there were no doubts about the result or Dubois’s credibility after he fought Joshua in September 2024. Dubois was aggressive from the start, put AJ on the canvas in round one and knocked him out in the fifth, leaving Dubois as the IBF champ.

That meant another tilt at Usyk. This time the result was far more clear-cut: Dubois barely laid a glove on the Ukrainian icon and didn’t make it to the end of the fifth round. But he’s still hungry for success and, when negotiating his next fight, refused an IBF eliminator bout against Frank Sánchez. It was a title fight against Wardley or nothing.

Wardley is confident of holding on to his belt in the face of Dubois’s challenge. “I don’t think there’s a man that can stand in front of me and make it through the 12 rounds with me,” he says. “As good a fighter as Daniel is – he’s been in with some good guys – I don’t think he’s the man to do it.”

You may not be surprised to learn that Dubois disagrees. “Full credit to him, he’s come through everything that’s been put in front of him, and now is my time,” the challenger says. “I feel like I’ve been through what I need to. I’m experienced and I’m ready to go.”

There appeared to be a grudging respect between the two, but that evaporated at their press conference in February, when Dubois declined to bump Wardley’s fist. “My power is proven. If there’s time left on the clock, I’m taking you out of the fight,” Wardley told his opponent. “Victory by knockout, by any means necessary,” Dubois shot back.

Former champ Roy Jones Jr makes Wardley the slight favourite. “Fabio Wardley is a very, very tough customer. Dubois probably is the better boxer, but he had better get Wardley out early, because if the fight gets past round seven, it becomes a Wardley fight. Wardley is a modern-day George Foreman.”

Croatian boxer Filip Hrgović, who suffered his first ever professional defeat against Dubois in 2024, predicts success for his conqueror: “Yeah, I give him the advantage. I think that he will win.” Hrgović also wants a rematch, which may have influenced his thinking…

Promoter Frank Warren has promised that “the winner of this will be fighting in a big stadium fight”. With talks continuing over the Fury v Joshua showdown proposed for later in 2026, it should surely be against whoever wins that. Whether Wardley or Dubois emerges triumphant, they’ll hope the negotiations don’t go on too long.

There could be interest in a bout between the champ and Moses Itauma, the 20-year-old who’s arguably the most exciting up-and-coming talent in UK boxing. Would that be a “big stadium fight”, though?

And what of Usyk? You can’t help but get the feeling that the unified champ is watching all these machinations with a slight smile, waiting for the leading contender for the undisputed championship to arise… so he can knock them out.

The evening’s boxing at the Co-op Arena features a group of talented British fighters, including former English heavyweight champ Solomon Dacres, who scored a victory on the undercard of the Dubois v Usyk rematch. There should be plenty of local support for Bolton’s unbeaten super lightweight Khaleel Majid, who takes on Wales’s Gavin Gwynne.

Jared Anderson v Solomon Dacres
Heavyweight

Jack Rafferty v Ekow Essuman
Super lightweight

Liam Cameron v Bradley Rea
Light heavyweight

Khaleel Majid v Gavin Gwynne
Super lightweight

Plus more to be announced

You can see this fight on DAZN with Virgin Media from 6.30pm on Saturday 9 May 2026. It’s available to order from 10am on Tuesday 5 May in HD only and costs £24.99. And even better, this payment will also entitle you to a month’s subscription to DAZN, allowing you to enjoy a month of superb sporting action on DAZN.

The event cannot be recorded and will be repeated on Sunday 10 May at 10am and 5pm (last playout).

The purchase will include access to the fight and will also enable you to redeem one month’s access to DAZN – please see details at point of purchase. Promotion is owned and operated by DAZN.

To watch this event, you must have a TiVo® box, Virgin TV V6 box, a Virgin TV 360 box or Stream box.

Customers with our TiVo® and V6 boxes: Go to Home > On Demand > Live Events. Press the red button then choose the event and follow the instructions on screen. A TV PIN may not be required. To view your booking, once purchased, go to On Demand > Live Events > Event Bookings.

Customers with our Virgin TV 360 or Stream boxes: Go to Home > Pay Per View events rail. Press OK, then choose the event and follow the instructions on screen. A TV PIN may not be required. To view your booking, once purchased, go to Home > Pay Per View events rail.