Daniel Dubois snapped at Fabio Wardley and delivered an expletive-laden promise to the world heavyweight champion on Wednesday, during a fiery press conference for their title fight in May.

At various points, tempers threatened to boil over between the teams of the two British boxers, with Dubois’s advisor Sam Jones involved in a heated back-and-forth with Wardley’s manager Michael Ofo. Dubois’s trainer Don Charles was even forced to call for order.

Dubois (22-3, 21 knockouts) and Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) largely stayed out of the drama in London, until they clashed during their closing remarks.

On 9 May in Manchester, Dubois will fight for the first time since he was stopped by Oleksandr Usyk in July, while Wardley picked up the interim WBO belt by stopping Joseph Parker in October – and was later elevated when Usyk gave up the official title.

Since last July, Dubois ditched long-term trainer Charles, spent a period with Tony Sims, then returned to Charles. And Wardley highlighted the uncertainty in the camp of his domestic rival, as well as referencing Dubois’s first pro loss – to Joe Joyce in 2020, when the 28-year-old took a knee after sustaining heavy damage to his eye socket.

“Yeah, look, my power is proven,” said Wardley, 31. “First round, last round, one way or another; if there is time left on the clock, I’m taking you out of that fight. You’re not making it to the final bell.

“I know a lot has been made of the back-and-forth with Don and Daniel, moving trainers, but honestly for me – one trainer, two trainers, no trainers – I couldn’t give a s***.

“[Charles] is not going to get in the ring and help him. All it’s going to be is: the bell is going to go, it will be me and Daniel, and I’m going to be staring in his face. I’ll throw some bombs at him, and we’re going to see if he can weather the storm – which, if we’re looking at proven records…

“It proves when things get dicey, he is not really up for it. He is not really game, so we’re going to really see on the night who has really got what it takes.”

Dubois interjected at this point and said: “F*** that! I’ve got what it takes mate. You’re going to see on the night.”

The British heavyweights, both dressed smartly in suits, soon took part in a face-off, which ended with Dubois looking away first before snubbing Wardley’s offer of a fist bump.

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren had earlier claimed this match-up between two of his stable was “one of the most-easiest fights to make” and promised it would be a fight of the year contender.

Former IBF champion Dubois concluded: “I’m full of confidence for this one, raring to go, and I’ve got to take his zero. I’ll be the first to do it.”