Wardley points to durability concerns and says Dubois’ performance can vary under pressure
Fabio Wardley has questioned Daniel Dubois’ consistency before their heavyweight title fight in Manchester. The unbeaten challenger says the result may depend on how Dubois responds once the fight gets tough.
Wardley pointed directly at the inconsistency that has followed Dubois throughout his career.
“You’ve seen in some of Daniel’s fights, he’s proven to be durable and strong and mentally resilient,” Wardley said. “In other fights, you’ve seen that lacking,” said Wardley during Thursday’s final press conference.
Wardley suggested Dubois’ performances can swing sharply depending on his confidence and surroundings heading into a fight.
“For whatever reason, whether it be confidence in training or the people around you haven’t done the right job or whatever it may be, it depends on what Daniel turns up on the night,” Wardley said. “It can be a flip of a coin sometimes.”
The comments touched on a subject that has followed Dubois since his losses to Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk, where critics questioned how he reacted once the fights became difficult.
Dubois refused to engage with Wardley’s remarks when asked for a response.
“No comment. I’m there to show my pedigree,” Dubois said.
Wardley enters the fight unbeaten and carrying growing confidence after repeatedly finding ways to recover in difficult moments, including his two-fight series with Frazer Clarke.
“I believe, irrespective of pedigree and history, I can beat him regardless,” Wardley said. “Losing a round or losing all the rounds, it doesn’t matter what’s going on in that fight, that belief in me is unwavering.”
The unbeaten challenger added that previous adversity has only strengthened his confidence going into the biggest fight of his career.
“It doesn’t matter what circumstances have happened before,” Wardley said.
Saturday’s fight at the Co-op Live Arena will headline one of the biggest heavyweight events held in Manchester in recent years, with Wardley attempting to take Dubois’ WBO title in his first world championship fight.
