Arabic version: دوبوا يرفض مصافحة واردلي في مواجهة مكثفة

According to BBC News,

Daniel Dubois refused a fist bump from world champion Fabio Wardley during a news conference in London, heightening the anticipation for their upcoming world title fight. The bout is scheduled for 9 May at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.

Tensions flared between the two camps as Wardley expressed confidence in his abilities, stating, “My power is proven. If there’s time left on the clock, I’m taking you out of the fight.” Wardley, with 19 stoppages in 20 wins, will make the first defense of his WBO crown after being upgraded from interim champion.

Dubois, who is recovering from a knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk, remained composed but assertive, declaring his intent for a knockout victory. When the fighters faced off, Dubois looked away first, leading to an awkward moment when Wardley extended his fist in a gesture of respect, which Dubois declined.

The press conference, held at Dutch Hall, featured a lively exchange between the managers of both fighters, with Dubois’ representative predicting a quick victory for Dubois, while Wardley’s manager countered that Wardley would “destroy Daniel Dubois early”. Promoter Frank Warren emphasized the significance of the fight, stating that the winner could be on the path to a major stadium fight.

As the event approaches, both fighters are prepared to showcase their knockout power, with each having impressive knockout ratios of 95%.