Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois have officially weighed in for their highly anticipated WBO heavyweight world championship clash. The weigh-in took place on Friday, setting the stage for their Saturday night battle at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
Wardley tipped the scales at 242.2 pounds, while his opponent Dubois came in heavier at 251.7 pounds. Both fighters are renowned for their devastating power, each boasting an identical and formidable 95% knockout ratio. This statistic underscores the explosive potential of the matchup, with both men possessing the ability to end the fight with a single punch.
Promoter Frank Warren is eagerly anticipating the action, predicting a classic encounter. He believes the fight will be a heavyweight version of the legendary Marvin Hagler vs Tommy Hearns bout, known for its non-stop, all-action style from the opening bell. Warren expects both fighters to march forward immediately, engaging in a thrilling shootout with no intention of backing down.
However, former trainer of Daniel Dubois, Shane McGuigan, has offered a word of caution. While he believes Dubois is the more technically proficient boxer with superior fundamentals, balance, and jab, he warns that Dubois's own punching power could be his undoing. McGuigan suggests that if Dubois adopts an overly aggressive, knockout-seeking approach, he plays directly into Wardley's greatest strength.
McGuigan explained that Wardley is most dangerous when hurt or when an opponent recklessly attacks him, always carrying a phenomenal puncher's chance. He advises Dubois to employ a more disciplined, tactical game plan: use his jab, control the distance with his feet, and make the fight 'boring' from a spectacle standpoint. According to McGuigan, Wardley cannot outbox Dubois in a technical chess match.
The strategic dilemma for Dubois is clear. McGuigan acknowledges that Dubois is a 'born puncher' with a natural instinct to seek the knockout, but warns that this very instinct could lead him to walk onto a counter shot. While McGuigan ultimately picks Dubois to win on points, he concedes he would not be surprised if the fight ends with Dubois being caught by a single, fight-changing blow.
Based on reporting from SkySports | News.