The Barista, 31, will clash with Dynamite, 28, on May 9, 2026 at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, and The Lion, 60, has now reflected on what the bout means for the sport and the two fighters’ home country.
Speaking with Pro Boxing Fans, Lewis said: “I think that is another great fight to see because Fabio Wardley has come a long way and made some big steps, he should feel proud of what he has accomplished so far.
“I think that will be a great, British fight. All the British fans are going to be excited about it.”
The clash will mark Wardley’s first defence of his WBO heavyweight championship after previous titleholder Oleksandr Usyk, 39, vacated the belt following The Barista’s victory over Joseph Parker, 34, in October 2025.
As well as Lewis, Paulie Malignaggi, 45, has weighed in on the fight, saying the clash has come at the perfect time for Wardley.
He told talkSPORT: “From Wardley’s perspective, I think it’s a shoot-out of a fight and I think Wardley is intelligent to get Dubois now cause you don’t know where Dubois’s mindset is at coming off the back of the Uysk knockout.
“Let’s remember, Dubois had a lot of momentum before the Usyk rematch and you almost think is he catching Usyk at the right time? He won a bunch of fights and they were talking about it a lot – Hrgovic, he stopped Miller, he was in good form.
“The reason he had the [Usyk] rematch was cause the first fight was controversial so to get knocked out, I have a curiosity about where his head is at, where his confidence is at, cause he’s kind of hot and cold in his career, we’ve seen that.
“Dubois, if he starts picking up momentum is dangerous, but Dubois, if he’s unsure, he can look the polar opposite, and especially as Wardley can punch, he could get him out of there.”
As for the future, Moses Itauma, 21, is hoping to come to blows with Wardley after his fight with Jermaine Franklin, 32, in March.
The Wrecking Ball told Sky Sports: “It all makes sense [fighting Wardley], but obviously, right now, I’ve got Jermaine Franklin, and he’s got Daniel Dubois.
“If Daniel Dubois wins, obviously that makes sense. Fabio Wardley is in the same gym as me, so that would be a bit of a predicament, wouldn’t it? I’d probably say Fabio wins.”
