Daniel Dubois’ new trainer, Tony Sims, is aiming for a WBO heavyweight title clash with Fabio Wardley.
Sims took over from Don Charles as Dubois’ coach in August, following Dubois’ second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. The 28-year-old Brit joined Sims after Johnny Fisher, seeking top-tier guidance again after a stretch without a high-level trainer, and Sims brings prior experience with top heavyweights back to the gym.
Sims previously guided Anthony Joshua to the IBF title and has since watched Wardley rise to WBO champion. Confident in Dubois’ development under his tutelage, Sims believes a Wardley showdown should be the next step for the English heavyweight.
“I’d like to see the Wardley fight for him,” Sims told BoxingScene. “That matchup has been discussed. He’s competed at a higher level now with Joshua and Usyk, and a comeback bout with a lesser opponent wouldn’t reflect the progress he’s made. Wardley is the perfect opponent for a true test. It’s a terrific fight for British fans, and it appeals to boxing fans everywhere because both men are punchers. It’d be a remarkable contest.”
Sims added that Dubois is performing very well and has trained with him for roughly three to four months. He’s awaiting a date to begin a full camp, with technical work already underway. “We’re waiting on a date so he can dive into a proper camp, but things have been going smoothly.”
Wardley, 30, captured the title after an impressive victory over Joseph Parker in October. Interestingly, Fisher recently fought under Sims again, surviving a tough start in Monte Carlo to stop Ivan Balaz in the fourth round, marking his first win under Sims’ guidance.
“It’s good to have a couple of heavyweights training together,” Sims remarked. “They’ve both settled in well with the rest of the team, which has been beneficial. Pad work can be demanding, but I’ve got assistant John Ryder in there to share the workload, and the camp is progressing nicely.”
In the meantime, after parting ways with Charles, Dubois also brought on Sam Jones as an advisor. His sister, lightweight Caroline Dubois, recently signed a promotional agreement with MVP. Sims, meanwhile, is leading Craig Richards into a domestic light-heavyweight showdown with Dan Azeez.
Would you prefer the piece to emphasize more on the tactical aspects of the Dubois–Wardley potential fight, or should I foreground the personal journeys and gym dynamics between Sims, Dubois, and the other fighters?
