Shane McGuigan believes Daniel Dubois has all the tools to defeat Fabio Wardley - but fears he simply won’t use them when they meet for the WBO heavyweight title on May 9 in Manchester.
Dubois has rebuilt momentum in recent years with stoppage wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua after his loss to Oleksandr Usyk. Now training under Don Charles, the 27-year-old enters another major test against the unbeaten Wardley, who holds a 20-0-1 (19 KOs) record and a reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous punchers.
Despite Wardley’s knockout power, McGuigan pointed out clear vulnerabilities. The Englishman has been outboxed for stretches in previous fights, including being held to a draw by Frazer Clarke and trailing on the scorecards against Justis Huni and Joseph Parker before securing late stoppages.
For McGuigan, the path to victory for Dubois is straightforward - but unlikely to be followed. He emphasized Dubois’ strong fundamentals, including his balance, footwork, and especially his jab, which he described as “more powerful than his right hand.”
“I could be sat right in front of Daniel and tell him, ‘box his ears off and just use your jab,’” McGuigan said. “But he will not listen… he will go straight for him.”
That approach, he warned, could define the fight. If Dubois boxes intelligently, McGuigan believes he can win comfortably. If he chooses to engage in a shootout, the bout could quickly turn into a knockout battle where either man could fall.
Image Credit: Sky Sports