Frank Warren, promoter for Queensberry Promotions, admits he’s in a tough spot as he prepares to watch Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois collide in a heavyweight world title fight on Saturday night.
“I promote both men, and honestly, I’m struggling with it,” Warren says. “They’re genuinely nice guys, and I have a history with each of them. Showing my emotions will be hard, but this is professional boxing—the best fight the best.”
Warren plans to visit both dressing rooms before the bell rings, delivering the same message: good luck. He acknowledges the fight could end with one man on the canvas, and when it does, his first priority will be to console the loser. “I can’t jump around celebrating. It’s tough. I don’t want anyone to lose, but there’s always a winner and a loser.”
Dubois has been with Warren from the start. “We sponsored him when he was 17, and he signed with us at 18 when he turned pro. We’ve had a few bumps along the way, but his résumé is incredible for such a young heavyweight.”
Wardley’s story, by contrast, is a true Cinderella tale. “Imagine a guy with zero amateur experience walking into your office, wanting to sign, and then becoming a heavyweight world champion in his 21st fight. You’d say it’s impossible—but he’s done it.”
This isn’t the first time Warren has pitted two of his own top fighters against each other. He recalls Steve Collins vs. Nigel Benn, Joe Calzaghe vs. Robin Reid, and Calzaghe vs. Chris Eubank. “Like those fights, Daniel and Fabio wanted this. It will be a shootout from the first bell—a heavyweight version of Hagler vs. Hearns. You won’t be able to look away.”
Dubois is known for his quiet, introverted nature—a trait that has drawn criticism this week. Warren is protective of him. “I always try to talk to him before media events, prepare him. He doesn’t enjoy that part of the game. He’s not into all the verbal stuff. His father is his mentor, and the family is tight. Some boxers party when they get successful—he doesn’t. After he beat Anthony Joshua, he just wanted to go home. I had to push him into the press room so the world could see him.”
Warren notes that promoting each fighter requires a different approach. “With Prince Naseem Hamed, it was easy—I knew exactly how to promote him. Some guys are easily promotable; others take more work. But Daniel has come out of his shell lately. The funniest moment was when he faced Filip Hrgovic. Hrgovic said he had no heart, and Daniel told him he’d knock him out—using an expletive I won’t repeat. I’d never even heard him swear before! It was like getting the vicar to swear.”
The promoter insists both fighters wanted this clash, and it promises to deliver fireworks from the opening bell.
