“I think Dubois is going to win because he’s got a lot more experience and he’s beaten better guys,” Okolie told Sky Sports. “If they start trading, unless Fabio is that much quicker, Dubois definitely punches harder than him and will hurt him.”
The reasoning is clear. Wardley has speed and has produced sudden finishes, but Dubois has operated in longer, higher-level fights. Okolie is thinking about what happens when the pace slows, and the bigger punches start landing clean. He acknowledged the threat Wardley carries, particularly under trainer Ben Davison.
“If they catch Dan early and hard, then we might see a repeat of [Wardley’s best] performances,” Okolie said. “But I’d be favoring Dan in that fight.”
Okolie’s familiarity with Dubois dates back to their time under Shane McGuigan, when they trained in the same camp and sparred regularly. That background informs his comments on power and durability at close range.
The prediction arrives as Okolie prepares for his own fight next month. He faces 2016 Olympic gold medalist Tony Yoka in Paris on April 25 and holds the No. 1 position in the WBC rankings. He has publicly targeted interim titleholder Agit Kabayel and described the route he plans to follow.
“My aim is to win in France, win in Germany, and then win in England and be king of it all,” Okolie said.
A Dubois win in Manchester would set up a British fight built on shared history and prior sparring. A Wardley win would shift the direction of that pursuit, though Okolie’s focus remains unchanged.
Lawrence must first defeat Yoka. After that, the Kabayel opportunity stands in front of him. By siding with Dubois now, Okolie has made clear which version of the domestic picture he expects to pursue once his own work abroad is complete.
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