The battle is about to end

Wardley’s rise follows a clear pattern. Each step was harder than the one before, and he never backed down from a step. He was beaten early by Justis Huni, who stopped him anyway. He was expected to lose to Joseph Parker, but ended up coming late.

Even Frazer Clarke’s draw with Wardley, and the intense rematch that followed, showed a fighter who learns in public and decisively shuts the door the second time around. Fabio has remained active and taken increasingly fierce fights.

DuBois’s path looks different these days. He has boxed once since last summer’s rematch loss to Alexander Usyk. During that time, he changed coaches, changed management, reunited with his former coach, and stayed away from the ring. The name on the record is still there, even if last year didn’t improve him.

DuBois called on Wardley to “sign the contract” on social media, citing less urgency than timing. Wardley already has a belt, regular events and a domestic base that grows with each win. DuBois has the rankings and the name recognition, but his status is based on what he has done in the past, not what he has done recently.

Where everyone is now

This contrast is the point of combat. If Wardley beats Dubois, it would confirm that his climb was real and that the belt didn’t fall to him by accident. If Dubois beats Wadley, it would be his first meaningful step forward since the loss to Usyk and reopen a conversation that has been stalled for nearly a year.

Regardless, direction is being tested. Wadley is trying to see how far he can go. DuBois is trying to prove that he hasn’t started to slip yet.