COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR MANCHESTER MEGA-FIGHT

BOMBS AWAY! AS our terrific MC Thomas Treiber likes to say, ‘the time has (nearly) arrived’ for the most highly-anticipated heavyweight showdown for a long time.

As boxing fans, we are all pretty good at picking holes in most things, but I haven’t heard anybody say they are not excited by the prospect of Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois ferociously landing leather on each other with the WBO world heavyweight title at stake.

This is what we have got in front of us at the fantastic Co-op Live in Manchester on Saturday night and the best venue in the land will be full to bursting for this must-see event.

We have called this show ‘Don’t Blink’ for good reason.

For us British fight fans it just doesn’t get any better than a world heavyweight title clash between two huge-punching Brits, who both possess a 95% knockout ratio.

There was never any question of Fabio asking for any easy pickings when it came to arranging for the first defence of his WBO world title. Why would he? Especially as he has just overcome the previously consensus No.1 contender in Joseph Parker.

It is not in his nature anyway because Fabio is a true warrior with no interest in padding out his career statistics.

Daniel is made of the same stuff. He is coming into this fight off the back of a second attempt to halt the undefeated rise of Oleksandr Usyk.

He held the IBF world title and made his first defence against Anthony Joshua, so we know what these two men are all about. We all also know a great fight when we see one made and this one has simply captured the imagination and interest of not just fight fans.

It is going to be fascinating to see this fight unfold. We know both fighters carry enormous power, but do we know about the punch resistance? Are the old shock absorbers in full working order?

We know Fabio is as tough as old boots and has got hit in previous fights, notably against Justis Huni and Parker, to a lesser extent. But I don’t think I would be wrong in saying those two do not match up to the punch power of Daniel.

Fabio can whack too, we all know that and it is what has kept him in fights on occasion. Daniel took his lumps and came good against the likes of Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and a late burst from AJ, but has he come up against a show-stopper like Fabio?

This will be a sporting spectacle and the type of fight we are determined to continue delivering at Queensberry.

As ever with a Queensberry delivery, the headline attraction is always in good company and the undercard is no different.

We honestly could be in for a whole sequence of cracking fights and I am delighted to welcome two-weight world champion David Morrell for what should be a stirring encounter against Zak Chelli. I’d also like to extend a welcome to two Uzbek stars in two-time Olympic gold medalist in heavyweight Bakhodir Jalolov, plus the 2025 world amateur champion Javokhir Ummataliev at light heavyweight.

Jack Rafferty against Ekow Essuman should be a domestic thriller at welterweight, along with the light heavyweight pairing of Liam Cameron and Brad Rea, plus the super lightweight match of Khaleel Majid and Gavin Gwynne.

I would certainly recommend taking your seat, or your armchair, early on Saturday night!