Daniel Dubois has taunted Fabio Wardley ahead of Saturday’s world heavyweight title rematch at The O2 Arena by declaring “he punches like a baby”.
The British rivals clash in a replay of their classic in May when Dubois climbed off the canvas twice to stop Wardley in the 11th round, seizing his WBO belt in the process.
Wardley was left bloodied and bruised by Dubois’ onslaught over the last five rounds yet immediately demanded they fight again, encouraged by his early success in flooring his foe.
Dubois, however, insists that he did not feel the shots as he dismissed the heavy hands that are seen as one of Wardley’s key weapons.
“He doesn’t have no power,” the 29-year-old Londoner said. “He punches like a baby.
“The knockdowns were early doors, whatever. I didn’t feel it. You just get up and keep fighting. You just plough through it.
“My mentality was to plough through and chip away and I did that. He doesn’t punch, so I’m just gonna land my punches and bring the pain.
“I’m gonna bash him up easy. I’ve learned what I’ve needed to learn from the first fight and I’m just ready to put it on him.
“I’m going to break him down and beat him up, like I’m his daddy.”
Wardley is convinced that he can make the technical changes needed to avenge his only defeat in another twist to a a late-blooming career that began with four white collar bouts before turning professional.
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The granite-chinned Ipswich puncher believes Dubois is incapable of varying his style having been boxing since childhood – resulting in a dismissive retort from the favourite.
“He’s not good enough to adapt, so he’ll do the same thing as he did in the first fight,” Dubois said.
“I know what I’m going to do to him will be a lot worse than the first fight. I can’t wait to get in there.”
If Dubois wins in his 27th professional fight, he will set about unifying the heavyweight division by dethroning his rival champions Agit Kabayel, Filip Hrgovic and Murat Gassiev.
“They’re good fighters but I’m getting ready to surpass them and go where no man has been before,” Dubois said.
“Collect the belts and go undisputed, like the greats such as Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson have done.
“I’ve going to leave a similar legacy and and leave my mark. But let’s get Saturday out of the way first.”
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