Fabio Wardley loves a good scrap. He's been tipped to lose on several occasions now but that cannon of a right hand is a brilliant equaliser.

Here are some of his best wins...

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After a brilliant draw, Wardley stopped Frazer Clarke with one of the most brutal knockouts you'll see.

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After being dominated for 10 rounds at Portman Road by Justis Huni, Wardley lands the get out of jail card.

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And finally, the biggest of them all. Last time out, Wardley stopped the in-form and highly fancied Joseph Parker.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at The Co-op Live Arena, Manchester

The 23,500 capacity Co-op Live Arena is a sell out this evening and the venue was around 80% full by 20:00 BST. When you consider the main event ring walks aren't scheduled until 10:30 or maybe even later, that's some good going.

I bet you didn't know that Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois made their professional debuts on the same day.

Saturday, 8 April 2017 is the day these two heavy-hitting boxers stepped into the bear pit and now, they come full circle.

Dubois made his debut in the glitz and the glam of Manchester Arena. He was the teenage phenom on everyone's lips, while Wardley settled for a spot on a small hall card at York Hall.

Worlds apart then, but toe-to-toe tonight.

Check out baby-face Dubois below!

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So, so close yet so far, Mart.

The WBO wasn't recognised as one of the four major world titles until 2004 and this fight was in 1994.

Richie Woodhall
Former boxing world champion on BBC Radio 5 Live

Fabio Wardley is extremely mentally tough, there’s been several situations where he’s been out-boxed but he doesn't give up.

I think he lacks experience, it shows here and there but he seems to recover mentally and just gets on with it. I’m a big admirer of him.

Tony Bellew
Retired world champion to BBC Sport

If Wardley can come through those first three rounds, I believe he gets rid of Dubois between six and eight.

Dubois is a confidence fighter and a bully so if he gets success early on in the fight he will build on it and look really strong.

But the flip side to the coin is when he gets hurt early, it can detract from his confidence. And when his confidence drops, he starts questioning himself and kind of looks for a way out.

If Dubois gets any confidence, this could be over in the first.

Carl Frampton
Retired world champion and DAZN analyst

You have a new show about the probation system in Northern Ireland – what stuck with you the most from filming? An experience or person?

"I'm looking forward to people seeing it, I enjoyed doing it. There's some crazy stories and what stuck with me the most was that the common denominator in people on probation system was their childhood and their upbringing. A lot of them had terrible childhoods and upbringings. For me, that kind of rang out the whole way through the documentary.

"I feel sorry for a lot of these guys. When you have to listen to their life stories and what they had to deal with growing up, it doesn't surprise you that they get into trouble with the law."

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois have 42 wins between themselves, 40 of those wins have been knockouts.

This is a fight that could either go all 12 rounds or be over in one.

Not sure we'd fancy seeing Daniel Dubois take on Oleksandr Usyk after two defeats but Usyk v Fabio Wardley? Yes please!

Frank Warren
Queensberry Promotions

The winner of Saturday night is only going to be in big fights and we'll see whether Oleksandr Usyk will want to unify the division or not. That's uncertain at the moment.

Whatever happens, we have these two guys who could be carrying British boxing for the foreseeable, then later this year we've got AJ and Fury finally getting it on.

Like every era in boxing, there becomes a change in the guard and 2026 may the year for it in British heavyweight boxing.

Oleksandr Usyk has had his say...

"This is a good fight. I think Wardley will win. I want [it] because I think he deserves to win this fight. Good guy."

This is what it's all about. The WBO heavyweight championship.

Fabio Wardley will walk in with it but who will walk out holding it?

Image source, Getty Images

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at The Co-op Live Arena, Manchester

Fabio Wardley might be the most relaxed heavyweight champion in recent memory. All week he has been seen smiling and joking around. He's even taken himself out for strolls in Manchester city centre.

Wardley is articulate and well-spoken, but he hasn't shied away from the mental games. He has been more than happy to wind up Daniel Dubois at every opportunity, carrying himself with the ease of a man who knows he belongs at this level.

Frank Warren
Queensberry Promotions

Fabio is a very articulate, well-presented guy. I signed Fabio after his first fight with Frazer Clarke, which was a thrilling fight that ended in a draw, but I still believe he won that fight.

He's been learning on the job and he's done brilliant.

As Fabio says himself: 36 minutes of boxing, all it takes is a second from me.

He pulls that punch out of the blue, and when he lets that bomb go, you're in trouble. He's a phenomenal, powerful puncher, as is Daniel.

As we said earlier, this is the seventh all-British heavyweight world championship fight.

But the question is, can you name the other six?

GO!

Carl Frampton
Retired world champion and DAZN analyst

Should Moses Itauma fight the winner of Wardley v Dubois?

"Absolutely, it's going to be difficult with Fabio, the connect with pretty much the same team so that's going to be difficult. But, of course I'd love to see Moses fight whoever wins."

If you're into omens then Daniel Dubois weighing a career-heavy 18st (115kg) for tonight's contest might be worth taking note of.

When Dubois previously recorded his heaviest weight of 17st 10lb (112kg) in 2024, he went on to dismantle Anthony Joshua in five rounds.

Defending WBO champion Fabio Wardley was six pounds lighter than his opponent at 17st 4lb (110kg).

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at The Co-op Live Arena, Manchester

We're one fight away from what organisers are already calling the 'fight of the year'. The biggest shock will be if it goes the distance.

I can't really see any empty seats - it's lively and the crowd here have been waiting patiently.

Not many celeb spots so far. I walked past Luke Littler having a stroll backstage. Oh and there's a fella who is the spitting image of Phil Mitchell.