The former heavyweight champion will be looking to become a two-time world champion this evening, but stunned fans just hours before his fight with Fabio Wardley

Daniel Dubois has stunned boxing fans after arriving late for his fight with Fabio Wardley after being stuck in traffic.

The former heavyweight world champion returns to the ring later this evening for the first time since losing his IBF title to Oleksandr Usyk last July in front of over 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. 'Triple D' was outclassed from start to finish as he suffered a gruelling fifth round knockout defeat to the Ukrainian.

Rather than taking a tune-up fight, the British star went straight into the deep end, taking on WBO heavyweight champion Wardley in Manchester. The hard-hitting heavyweight behemoth has cut a rather composed figure all week, and is very much eager to get back to the top of the pile.

But just hours before the Manchester melee, the boxing fraternity were shocked after it was announced on the official DAZN broadcast that Dubois was stuck in traffic. The 28-year-old eventually rocked up to the Co-op Live shortly before 8:30pm UK time - just over two hours before his scheduled ring walk time - to relieve any concern.

FOLLOW THE FABIO WARDLEY VS DANIEL DUBOIS LIVE BLOG HERE.

It's not the first time Dubois has arrived to a fight just in the nick of time after he turned up to Wembley late in his last fight against Usyk after his dad held a party at the family home in the afternoon before the undisputed showdown. The Essex-based brawler was resting up ahead of the clash when invited guests of his father, Stan, were at the house.

'Triple D' briefly left the home because he did not know some of the people in attendance. His father later drove Dubois to Wembley after private cards - which were accredited to enter the area around the stadium - were used to ferry guests to the venue. That only delayed Dubois' arrival further as the car he travelled in was not accredited and he did not get into the venue until 80 minutes before the scheduled ring walk.

Dubois weighed in at a career high on Friday for his world title fight Wardley. Many were caught off guard by Dubois' decision to pile on the pounds. 'Triple D' was quick to weigh in, coming in at 251.7lb, nearly 10lb more than his official weight for his rematch with Usyk.

As for the champion, the Suffolk scrapper tipped the scales at 242.2lb. Wardley won the interim prize back in October after a stunning knockout of Joseph Parker - but was later promoted to full champion after Usyk vacated the coveted gold prize.

"It's not an easy night's work by any means," said Wardley after weighing in. "But, I am not known for picking an easy night's work, I am known for picking the biggest, biggest challenges out there. Before Daniel, it was Joseph Parker, and after him, once I am done with him, I will be picking the best names out there as well." While Dubois stated: "I am ready to seek and destroy. I am ready to turn up. I am on it."

Wardley added: "I think that's the question... What am I facing here? I guess we will find out on Saturday night. Because I stand by those words. It does vary (on Dubois' mentality). He does change from a two to a sometimes six, seven, eight, nine, and in some performances he has done well. But you take Usyk for example, he (Dubois) has not done well. You take the Kevin Lerena fight for example, he did not do well in that one either.

"Okay, he came out and got the win, but there were multiple times in that fight where he was taking knees without even being touched. Didn't take a punch. Didn't take anything on the chin. Just went down and took a knee. Okay, he showed some, turned it around and got the win, but once you have opened that door, once you have shown that bit of your character, all that leaves is space for people like me to expose that." A locked in Dubois offered very little in return, replying: "The talking is done now, I am just ready for war." The Brit added: "I am going to show up. He is facing Daniel Dubois. Let's see what he has got."