Heavyweight who cut Tyson Fury in sparring added to Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois card

Agron Samkici will face two-time Olympic medalist Bakhodir Jalolov on the Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois undercard.

Wardley and Dubois will meet in a high stakes heavyweight clash on May 9 in Manchester, with a blockbuster bill lined up.

Jared Anderson was forced to withdraw from the event, with some late changes being officialised with Zac Chelli facing David Morrell in a replacement clash.

And now it has been confirmed that there will be another heavyweight match-up added to the bill.

Smakici will take on unbeaten prospect Jalolov in an exciting late addition to the Manchester slate.

Jalolov will be a big favourite to taste victory, having stellar amateur pedigree and a clean professional record.

The 16-fight professional had huge success in the Olympics, winning gold medals at the 2020 and 2024 Games.

It promises to be an opportunity to develop his profile further with the watching eyes likely to have huge intrigue on the clash.

As for Smakici, it is a name that is familiar with the boxing world, given he famously cut Tyson Fury in sparring.

He landed a rogue elbow which cut the Briton and forced his original undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk in 2024 to be delayed.

The Croatian was stopped in his last outing late last year, and will need a career-best display to pull off a big upset.

In the main attraction, Wardley will make a defence of his WBO title against Dubois, in the battle of the heavy-handed Brits.

AFP

Wardley vs Dubois – a fight for the ages

It is a true 50/50 fight with high stakes as the winner will be set for some big fights with the likes of Moses Itauma and Oleksandr Usyk.

Dubois is looking to bounce back from his defeat to Usyk and could become a two-time heavyweight champion.

Meanwhile for Wardley, he has made an incredible rise, and is looking to cement his name at the top of the pecking order.

On his title defence, the Ipswich native said: “For me personally, the way I feel with Daniel his punches aren’t particularly sharp or unexpected.

“His shots are loaded and not particularly unexpected, that’s not to take away from his power.

“If they hit you, they will hurt, but they aren’t clean and crisp and don’t come out of nowhere.

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“You know what punches are coming, just because you are big and strong it doesn’t mean you are knocking people out.

“In boxing, it’s the punches you don’t see and in that area I think he is lacking.”