Wardley vs. Dubois LIVE: Start Time, Streaming Updates & Full Fight Card Results from Manchester

The wait is finally over. Tonight, May 9, 2026, the heavyweight division gets a seismic jolt as Fabio Wardley puts his WBO world title on the line against former champion Daniel Dubois inside the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England. This is not just a domestic dust-up; this is a genuine crossroads fight between two of the most devastating punchers in the sport. One man is making his first official defense after being elevated to the throne, while the other is looking to reclaim the glory that was snatched from him by the great Oleksandr Usyk. Expect leather, expect drama, and expect a serious shift in the heavyweight landscape by the time the final bell rings—or the canvas is kissed.

For those of you who bleed boxing, you know this is the kind of fight that keeps the division alive. Wardley, the undefeated knockout artist from Ipswich, carries the belt and a terrifying 19 KOs in 20 wins. Dubois, the former IBF and WBA titlist from Greenwich, carries a chip on his shoulder and the memory of two heartbreaking losses to Usyk. Tonight, there is nowhere to hide. Below, we break down everything you need to know to catch all the action, including streaming updates, the full undercard results, and expert analysis of the main event.

How to Watch Wardley vs. Dubois: Stream Live on DAZN

If you are not inside the Co-op Live Arena tonight, the only place to catch every second of the action is via DAZN Pay-Per-View. The main card is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. BST. This is a stacked card from top to bottom, and you do not want to miss a single punch.

To stream it live online via DAZN click here. The broadcast is available on all smart TVs, mobile devices, gaming consoles, and via the DAZN website. Make sure you have your subscription and PPV purchase sorted early to avoid any buffering delays when the main event walkouts begin.

We are also running a live fan chat below. Feel free to leave a comment (or several) about the bouts and chat with all the other Maniacs during the show — it’s always a lot of fun. Share your predictions, your shock reactions, and your fight scores in real time.

Full Card Results & Live Updates

The action has already started with the preliminary bouts. Here are the results from the early portion of the card, which saw a mix of decisions and a spectacular knockout. We will update this section with every result as the night progresses.

• Heavyweight: Bakhodir Jalolov vs. Agron Smakici – Result pending
• 140 lbs.: Khaleel Majid vs. Gavin Gwynne – Result pending
• Catchweight: David Morrell vs. Zak Chelli – Result pending
• 175 lbs.: Bradley Rea vs. Liam Cameron – Result pending
• 140 lbs.: Jack Rafferty vs. Ekow Essuman – Result pending

Earlier Results:

• 168 lbs.: Javokhir Ummataliev def. Damian Drabik via second-round knockout. A vicious body shot ended this one early.
• 154 lbs.: Bobbi Flood def. Nathan Darby via unanimous decision. Flood boxed smartly over six rounds to take a clean sweep on the scorecards.
• 200 lbs.: Mike Perez def. Franklin Arinze via unanimous decision. The veteran cruiserweight showed his class over the distance.
• 154 lbs.: Issiah Hamilton-Allen def. Connor Goulding via unanimous decision. A solid professional debut for Hamilton-Allen.

Expert Analysis: The Tale of the Tape

This fight is a true 50-50 on paper, and that is what makes it so compelling. Let’s break down the two combatants.

Fabio Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) is a physical specimen. He is tall, rangy, and possesses one-punch power in both hands. He was originally the interim champion, but after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the WBO strap last year, Wardley was elevated to the full titleholder. This is his first official defense, and he is coming home to Manchester—a city that has adopted him as one of its own. His style is built on pressure and overwhelming power. He doesn’t always have the slickest footwork, but if he lands clean, the fight ends. His resume is solid but untested at the elite level. Dubois is a massive step up.

Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) is a man reborn. He lost the IBF title to Usyk via a fifth-round knockout in July 2025—his second loss to the Ukrainian. But those losses to Usyk are not marks of shame; the man is a generational talent. Dubois has power that rivals anyone in the division. He is a natural heavyweight who carries his weight well. The question mark for Dubois has always been his chin and his composure under fire. He was stopped by Joe Joyce early in his career, and Usyk broke him down twice. However, he has also shown incredible resilience, crushing Jarrell Miller and Kevin Lerena before those Usyk fights. If Dubois can keep his jab working and avoid walking onto Wardley’s right hand, his experience at the top level could be the deciding factor.

Key Matchup: Wardley’s volume and aggression vs. Dubois’s jab and straight right. Wardley throws a lot of punches in bunches. Dubois is more of a patient stalker. The first three rounds will tell us everything. If Wardley can land his signature overhand right early, he might take Dubois out. If Dubois can establish his jab and make Wardley miss, the champion could fade in the middle rounds.

Prediction: Who Wins Tonight?

This is a tough one to call. I have gone back and forth on this fight more than any other heavyweight bout this year. Wardley is the younger, hungrier fighter with the momentum of an undefeated record. Dubois is the more battle-tested veteran who has seen the very top of the mountain.

My official prediction: I am leaning toward Daniel Dubois by late-round stoppage. Here is why: Wardley has never been past seven rounds in a professional fight. Dubois has gone the full 12 with Usyk (in their first fight) and has fought 10-round wars. The championship rounds are a foreign land for Wardley. Dubois’s jab is underrated, and he punches hard enough to keep Wardley honest. I expect Wardley to come out fast and have success in the first four rounds, wobbling Dubois at least once. But Dubois will weather the storm, adapt, and start landing his own heavy shots in the middle rounds. By the eighth or ninth round, Wardley’s gas tank will betray him, and Dubois will force a stoppage with a brutal right hand to the temple.

However, do not be surprised if Wardley lands that one punch in the first three rounds. He has the power to change the course of the heavyweight division with a single swing. It is a fascinating clash of styles and wills.

Why This Fight Matters for the Heavyweight Division

Beyond the immediate fireworks, the winner of Wardley vs. Dubois becomes a major player in a heavyweight division that is currently in a state of flux. Usyk is still the king, but he is now a part-timer. Anthony Joshua is rebuilding. Tyson Fury is in semi-retirement. The winner here steps into the top three or four in the world.

For Wardley, a win solidifies him as a legitimate world champion, not just a paper titlist. It opens the door to massive unification fights with the winner of the Joshua-Fury negotiations or a potential clash with Zhilei Zhang. For Dubois, a victory means redemption. It proves that his losses to Usyk were simply a case of running into an all-time great, and that he belongs in the elite tier. A rematch with Usyk would be a massive money fight, but so would a domestic showdown with AJ.

Tonight is about legacy. It is about who has the heart to take the punch and deliver the next one. One thing is certain: the heavyweight division will not look the same when the final bell rings in Manchester.

Strong Conclusion: The Bell Tolls in Manchester

As the fighters make their way to the ring under the bright lights of the Co-op Live Arena, the electricity is palpable. This is not a fight for the faint of heart. It is a fight between two men who believe they are the hardest puncher in the division. Fabio Wardley wants to prove he is the future. Daniel Dubois wants to prove he is the present.

The story will be written in blood, sweat, and leather. Whether it ends with a flash knockout in the first round or a gritty, gutsy decision after 12 rounds, this is a fight that will be talked about for months. Make sure you are watching live.

Stream it now on DAZN by clicking here. And do not forget to scroll down and join the conversation. Who do you have winning? Drop your predictions in the comments below. The Maniacs are waiting.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.