WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley makes the first defence of his title against former IBF champion Daniel Dubois on Saturday 9 May 2026 at Co-op Live in Manchester. The fight is billed “Don’t Blink” — between them the two fighters have 40 professional knockouts. Here is everything you need to know before fight night.
Fight at a glance
Date
Saturday 9 May 2026
Venue
Co-op Live, Manchester
Broadcast start (UK)
6:00 PM BST
Ring walk (approx.)
~10:00 PM BST
Title
WBO Heavyweight Championship
Bill title
“Don’t Blink”
Ring Walk Times by Region
| Region | Broadcast Start | Approx. Ring Walk |
|---|---|---|
| UK (BST) | 6:00 PM | ~10:00 PM |
| USA Eastern (ET) | 1:00 PM | ~5:00 PM |
| USA Central (CT) | 12:00 PM | ~4:00 PM |
| USA Pacific (PT) | 10:00 AM | ~2:00 PM |
| Australia (AEST) | 3:00 AM (Sun) | ~7:00 AM (Sun) |
Ring walk times are approximate and depend on undercard duration.
How to Watch
Wardley vs Dubois is available via DAZN PPV in the UK, US, and internationally. DAZN offers two tiers — the Ultimate plan includes PPV events within the subscription cost, while the Standard plan requires purchasing each event separately. The full event costs $59.99 in the US on a one-off basis.
DAZN is available on iOS, Android, Smart TV, Firestick, Roku, PC, and most streaming devices. New customers can access a 7-day free trial before committing to a subscription.
Fighter Stats and Records
Champion
Fabio Wardley
WBO Heavyweight Champion
Challenger
Daniel Dubois
Former IBF Heavyweight Champion
Background
Wardley is undefeated as a professional and holds the WBO title after stopping Joseph Parker in the 11th round in October 2025. He was upgraded from interim to full champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt in November 2025. This is his first defence. Wardley turned professional in 2017 after a handful of unlicensed bouts and has stopped 19 of his 21 opponents – only one victory has come via the scorecards.
Dubois turned professional on the same day as Wardley in 2017 and is attempting to become a two-time heavyweight world champion at 28. He won the IBF belt with a stunning fifth-round stoppage of Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September 2024 before losing it to Usyk in July 2025. His three defeats have come against Joe Joyce, Joe Smith Jr (in a fight where he suffered a fractured eye socket), and Usyk — who remains undefeated as a professional and vacated the WBO belt without defending against Wardley.
Recent Form
Wardley (last 5): W vs Joseph Parker (TKO 11) — W vs Justis Huni (KO 10) — W vs Frazer Clarke (TKO 1) — D vs Frazer Clarke (SD 12) — W vs David Adeleye (TKO 7)
Dubois (last 5): L vs Oleksandr Usyk (KO 5) — W vs Anthony Joshua (KO 5) — W vs Jarrell Miller (TKO 3) — W vs Bogdan Dinu (TKO 2) — L vs Joe Smith Jr (TKO 6)
Undercard
| Fight | Division |
|---|---|
| Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois — Main Event | Heavyweight (WBO World Title) |
| David Morrell vs Zak Chelli | Light Heavyweight |
| Bakhodir Jalolov vs Agron Smakici | Heavyweight |
| Jack Rafferty vs Ekow Essuman | Junior Welterweight |
| Liam Cameron vs Bradley Rea | Light Heavyweight |
| Khaleel Majid vs Gavin Gwynne | TBC |
Streaming Options
For viewers who subscribe to internet television services, major boxing events including WBO heavyweight title fights are typically included within standard subscriptions without an additional pay-per-view charge. If you already use an internet TV service, check whether the relevant broadcast channel or event is included in your package before purchasing separately via DAZN.
For viewers looking to explore internet TV options, a number of services offer free trials — enough time to evaluate the service and watch a major event before deciding whether to subscribe. See our streaming service trial guide for more information.