'I'll collect the trash' - Dubois on Wardley's bin-man jibe

A riled-up Daniel Dubois responded to world champion Fabio Wardley's "bin-man" jibe by vowing to make him pay for showing "disrespect".

Wardley will make the first defence of his WBO heavyweight title against Dubois in an all-British showdown at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena on Saturday.

Asked during the build-up what his opponent would do if he was not a boxer, Ipswich fighter Wardley, 31, replied: "Bin man."

That stirred the 28-year-old Dubois, who told his rival at Thursday's news conference: "I'm going to collect that trash, boy.

"It's disrespect, so I'm going to put it right in the ring. I heard what you said. I'm going to burst his bubble."

Tension between the pair has been building for months.

Dubois declined a fist bump in their first face-off in February and the hostility continued when they met again this week, with the verbal exchanges beginning within minutes.

"You don't even run your own social media," Wardley told the Londoner. "I got asked what job you would do and I said bin man. It's not a bad job."

Dubois insisted he was "not at all" rattled, before Wardley sarcastically replied: "Yeah, he's as cool as a cucumber."

Not a word was spoken during the final face-off before Wardley again offered a fist bump - this time in jest - as Dubois looked eager to leave the stage.

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With a combined knockout ratio of 95%, few expect Saturday's fight to go the distance.

Wardley claimed the WBO 'interim' title against Joseph Parker in October before being elevated to full champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.

He described not winning the title in the ring as "bitter-sweet", adding: Saturday night, I can have the full bells and whistles. It won't be 'and the new' but it'll be 'and still'."

Former IBF champion Dubois enters the bout on the back of last summer's knockout defeat by Ukrainian Usyk.

Dressed in a dark suit, he pumped his fist as he took his seat on stage, while Wardley opted for a more casual approach by wearing a tracksuit.

While Wardley was working in a London office less than a decade ago, home-schooled Dubois was identified early and moulded for the professional game.

But throughout fight week it has been Wardley who has carried himself like the established fighter. Relaxed and confident, he has almost been "big brothering" Dubois at times - joking during face-offs and looking completely at ease under scrutiny.

Figure caption,

From white collar boxing to world champion

"I am very focused, very dialled in," added Dubois as the attention soon turned to the Londoner walking out of two interviews earlier this week after feeling he was being mocked.