Daniel Dubois refused a fist bump from world champion Fabio Wardley because the pair got here face-to-face at a vigorous information convention in London.
The world title struggle between two of Britain’s largest punchers takes place at Manchester’s Co-op Stay Enviornment on 9 Might.
After some long-winded bickering between the 2 camps, the fighters – comparatively restrained till that time – lastly sparked into life.
Wardley mentioned he would “flatten” the challenger. “My power is proven. If there’s time left on the clock, I’m taking you out of the fight,” he added.
The 31-year-old – with 19 stoppages in 20 wins – will make the primary defence of his WBO crown, having claimed the ‘interim’ title in opposition to Joseph Parker earlier than being upgraded to full champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.
Former IBF champion Dubois, 28, is coming off a devastating knockout loss to generational nice Usyk final summer time.
“If you look back, when it gets dicey, he’s not up for it,” Wardley mentioned of Dubois, who has confronted accusations of folding too simply in his three stoppage defeats.
Wednesday’s information convention passed off at Dutch Corridor, a transformed Sixteenth-century church tucked away within the coronary heart of the town.
Dubois – by no means one for prolonged monologues – saved his solutions quick and matter of reality.
However the Londoner was clear in his intention. “Victory by knockout, by any means necessary,” he mentioned.
When the fighters ultimately stepped ahead for the compulsory face-off, Dubois appeared away first as Wardley smirked.
Moments later Wardley prolonged his fist in a gesture of respect, however Dubois shook his head and refused to interact.
