Daniel Dubois believes he will put on a show in Manchester against Fabio Wardley.

The two meet in a hotly-anticipated clash of heavyweight punchers on Saturday, with Wardley making the first defense of his WBO title against the big-hitting Dubois.

While Wardley is coming off the win of his career, against Joseph Parker, Dubois suffered a stoppage loss to Oleksandr Usyk in his second defeat at the hands of the brilliant Ukrainian last summer.

It’s been well-referenced that Wardley made his bones as a white-collar fighter before turning pro.

Dubois, conversely, was on Team GB, and he feels that could play a part in the fight.

“I’m going to show that I’ve got a punch and a bit of boxing skill about me because, you know, I’m the one with the amateur experience and an amateur pedigree, so I’m going to show that on the night,” Dubois said.

The challenger also reckoned that good fortune has shone on Wardley through his career.

Asked to explain that, Dubois added coldly: “I mean, his luck runs out when he comes against me. You’ve seen him keep coming back from the dead [i.e when he was a long way back on the scorecards against Justis Huni before turning the fight around with one shot]. This time he stays dead. RIP. Rest in peace, Fabio Wardley.”

Usually, such comments are frowned upon in boxing. But Dubois is not a keen fan of boxing media. Twice in fight week he has left mid-interview. It is not a role that has ever come easily for him, nor should the comments, as above, be taken literally.

Does that mean there is one rule for him and another for others?

Possibly so. 

But Dubois is so focused on the fight, what he does offer is usually a version of “You’re going to see on the night.”

While Dubois is not gifted with a Shakespearean turn of phrase, there is a clear warmth between him and promoter Frank Warren.

They’ve been through a lot on their journey together, and while Dubois never wavered from his promoter, he did sample new surroundings in the gym more recently.

Dubois has reunited with Don Charles after a brief stint with Tony Sims, and the fighter said he is happy to be back in Charles’ gym.

“Well, I’ve had good results at this gym. This is where we’ve done the best work of my career,” he said. “I feel grounded here and I’m ready to show what I’ve got on the night.”

The best results of Dubois’ career came when he stopped, in consecutive fights, Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua.

He is trying to set a positive example for his younger brother, Soloman, who has started boxing and Daniel, asked whether his young sibling could be better than him, smiles “I hope so.”

Of course, against Usyk last year things went wrong. 

Dubois looked confident early on but the master gradually withdrew that ambition and hope from him and then stopped Dubois in the sixth round.

Dubois, however, does not spend much time dwelling on the past. Like how he fights, he wants to forge forward at every opportunity.

“I look at it like I shared a ring with top southpaw, top heavyweight, Usyk, best of this generation,” said Dubois. “I brushed that [loss] over me a long time ago. I’m a new fighter now, a new man. I’m glad. I’m just grateful to be back in this position. I feel ready to go. I feel ready to be back in the firing line. I don’t feel disheartened or anything. I just feel confident and strong. I just want to win all the rest of my fights of my career, my next big fights, and yes, that’s my motivation really.”

Wardley is a man Dubois has sparred rounds with. But given that happened so far in the past, around a decade ago, Dubois refuses to use it as a reference point.

“Shout out to what he’s done, he’s come up, he’s beaten everyone they’ve put in front of him,” said Dubois. “So I guess he’s just done what any proper fighter should do…

“Sparring’s, sparring. I put that behind me now. I just want to prove, show what I’ve got under the bright lights and do where it matters.”

And Dubois has history of doing that. Years earlier, he was the rookie and a more experienced Filip Hrgovic had his way with the Englishman in the gym. But when they met for real, Dubois came out on top.

“It’s all different once the first bell goes; same thing, different opponent,” he added.

Wardley has made it clear that he wants to face Oleksandr Usyk should he come through the Battle of Manchester.

Dubois remains open to a third attempt at the Ukrainian. 

“It was a great fight for me,” he said of the learning experience and the occasion of a sold-out Wembley Stadium. “A lot on the line, so great, great opportunity, and I’m going to take it with both hands. After that, we fight whoever brings in the most, but yes, one step at a time.”