Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley odds, preview, prediction and start time

An explosive all-British heavyweight showdown takes centre stage this weekend, as Fabio Wardley defends the WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on Saturday, May 9. Wardley arrives unbeaten after a remarkable route to the top, while Dubois is looking to become world champion for the second time.

Ladbrokes brings you its full Dubois vs Wardley preview and prediction, taking a closer look at how the two heavyweights compare and running through what to expect in a fight that looks more or less a toss-up. In the Dubois vs Wardley odds, Wardley is 10/11 to win the fight while Dubois is evens, with the draw priced at 16/1.

• Fight: Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley

• Weight class: Heavyweight (WBO title)

• Venue: Co-op Live Arena, Manchester

• Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026

• Start time: Approx. 10.30pm BST (main event ring walks)

Fabio Wardley makes the first defence of his WBO heavyweight title after one of the more remarkable rises in British boxing. The Ipswich fighter had no traditional amateur background, but has gone from white-collar boxing to world champion, winning the interim belt with an eleventh-round stoppage of Joseph Parker before being upgraded after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title.

Wardley’s unbeaten record has not come without difficult moments. He drew with Frazer Clarke in their first fight before producing a brutal first-round knockout in the rematch, and he was behind against Justis Huni before finding a late finish at Portman Road. Those fights showed both his vulnerability and his biggest strength, with Wardley rarely looking beaten until the fight is actually over. 19 of Wardley's 20 wins have come by knockout.

Dubois, meanwhile, brings a far more conventional boxing background and considerably more experience at world level. The Londoner has already held the IBF heavyweight title and has faced a stronger level of opposition, sharing the ring twice with Oleksandr Usyk, beating Filip Hrgovic and Jarrell Miller, and producing a devastating knockout against Anthony Joshua in one of the biggest all-British heavyweight fights of recent years.

His defeats to Usyk showed the gap to the true elite, even if the first was controversial, but his performance against AJ showed just how dangerous Dubois can be. Now back with trainer Don Charles, who he was with for that fight, 'Dynamite' will see this as a chance to put himself back among boxing's elite. 21 of his 22 wins have come via stoppage, and given the explosive nature of the two fighters, a finish here looks highly likely. In the method of victory markets, a knockout is priced at 11/8 for Wardley and 6/4 for Dubois, while Wardley is 11/2 to win on points and Dubois is 6/1.

This feels like one of the hardest heavyweight fights to call in recent memory and that's reflected in the odds. Wardley is unbeaten, carries serious power and has repeatedly found a way to win when fights have started to turn against him. Dubois, though, has operated at a higher level, and his defining win over Anthony Joshua showed what he can do when he is confident and in full flow.

Wardley will want to drag Dubois into the kind of uncomfortable fight where his resilience and chaos become decisive. The champion is awkward, heavy-handed and dangerous when fights become messy, so Dubois cannot afford any lapses in concentration. 'DDD' is the more polished boxer and probably the cleaner puncher, but he cannot afford to let him hang around for too long and the fight probably favours Wardley the longer it goes on.

With 40 of their combined 42 wins coming by stoppage, it is hard to see this one going the distance. Wardley has the momentum and the title, but Dubois has the greater pedigree and can draw on his experience in a huge all-British clash against AJ. It should be a thrilling fight, but we’re backing the challenger to come through and win by knockout, with Dubois becoming world champion for the second time.

Wardley vs Dubois prediction: Daniel Dubois to win by knockout

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.