Fabio Wardley’s Team Accuses Daniel Dubois of Quitting

Manager references Joyce and Usyk defeats during tense kickoff event

Fabio Wardley’s team publicly questioned Daniel Dubois’ past during Tuesday’s WBO heavyweight press conference. The remark referenced Dubois’ past stoppage losses ahead of their May 9 bout. The card streams live on DAZN.

“Once you’ve quit once, it becomes easier to do it again,” Wardley’s manager said Tuesday while promoting the WBO heavyweight fight. The remark referenced Dubois’ defeats to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk, losses that still follow him whenever pressure becomes the topic.

Dubois’ team answered quickly. They pointed to his résumé and the level of opposition he has faced. Don Charles, back in Dubois’ corner, kept his response short. “Talk is cheap,” he said. “Refer to his record.”

Dubois did not revisit those nights. He did not break down the eye injury against Joyce or the body shot from Usyk. When asked for his prediction, he stayed direct. “Victory by knockout.” Later he added, “By any means necessary.” His objective, he said, is to take Wardley’s unbeaten record on May 9.

Wardley, for his part, kept the conversation anchored to the ring. When trainers and camp changes were raised, he brushed them aside. “He’s not going to get in the ring and help him,” Wardley said. “It’s going to be me and Daniel.”

Technically, this fight will test Dubois under pressure. Wardley fights with confidence in exchanges and does not mind meeting in the center. Dubois carries heavy on shot power and does his best work when he starts with the jab and commits to body shots before letting the right hand go. The issue raised at the podium was not about skill. It was about how a fighter reacts when the rounds get hard and the lungs start to burn.

When asked about being champion, Fabio Wardley said: “I’m immensely proud of myself for being able to achieve that and pull that off, but it’s not just me. It’s the team around me that supports me with their faith and belief.”

On facing Dubois: “I rate Daniel highly and that’s why I picked him as an opponent. I want to be remembered as a fighter who never ducked anyone or shirked a challenge. My power is proven, first round, last round. Our records prove that when things get dicey, he isn’t game for it, so we’re really going to see on the night who’s really got what it takes.”

Heavyweight press conferences often get loud without saying much. This one boiled down to one issue about how a man responds under pressure. Dubois met it with a knockout prediction. The real answer comes when the bell rings..

Upcoming fights live on DAZN include:

Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois; for the WBO heavyweight title, May 9, Manchester

Sugar Nunez vs. Emanuel Navarette; for Navarrete’s WBO junior lightweight title and Nunez’s IBF junior lightweight title, February 28, Phoenix

Mitchell vs. Rosado; light heavyweight, March 7, Derby

James Dickens vs. Anthony Cacace; junior lightweight, March 14, Dublin

George Liddard vs. Tyler Denny; for Liddard’s British and Commonwealth middleweight titles – March 21, London

Moses Itauma vs. Jermaine Franklin Jr.; heavyweight – March 28, Manchester

Derek Chisora vs. Deontay Wilder; heavyweight, April 4, London