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Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois talks underway for WBO heavyweight clash

Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois talks underway for WBO heavyweight clash

Fabio Wardley’s team have confirmed talks are underway over a potential WBO world heavyweight title defence against Daniel Dubois.

The Barrista Brit, 31, is weighing up options for his first defence after being elevated to full WBO champion, with Dynamite, 28, being a frontrunner for Wardley.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Wardley’s manager Mike Ofo said: “Fabio wanted to fight Oleksandr Usyk after beating Joseph Parker but he chose to pursue Deontay Wilder instead. Now that fight has fallen through, Fabio wants a unification fight with Usyk for all the belts.

“We were pursuing a fight with [Derek] Chisora or [Deontay] Wilder for April 4, but they took refuge in each other’s arms and as you can see from the presser, they are acting like a loved up couple.

“But boxing’s a tough sport so I wish them all the best for the future.

“As for Daniel Dubois, clearly that’s a fight that Fabio would be well up for. There’s nothing like an all-British showdown for the world heavyweight title!”

Dubois - the former WBA ‘regular’ champion and current IBF mandatory challenger - is promoted by Frank Warren, who confirmed preliminary discussions have taken place with both camps.

The Queensberry Promotions boss said: “We’re talking to Fabio about various things and also to Daniel.

“Whatever happens they’ve both got to fight, they both want to fight and they will fight.

“So they’ll probably fight end of April early May.”

Wardley was crowned champion after Oleksandr Usyk, 39, relinquished the belt rather than make a mandatory defence against the Ipswich fighter, opening the door for Wardley to target some of the division’s biggest names.

While Filip Hrgovic, 33, and Zhilei Zhang, 42, are also ranked within the WBO’s top 15, discussions over a bout with Derek Chisora, also 41, previously failed to reach agreement.

Wardley has also stressed he has no intention of protecting his title by avoiding dangerous opponents, insisting the belt will be available to anyone prepared to negotiate seriously.

He said: “I’m not going to run off with my belt and not offer it out to anyone. The biggest names out there are the guys I want to be in fights with.

“I think being open [to negotiations] might be a bit of an understatement. I’d be extremely keen to see if he’s genuine about it or not.”

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