After consecutive stoppage wins over previously unbeaten duo Jarrell Miller and now-former IBF #1 heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic, Daniel Dubois’ head trainer Don Charles has praised the 26-year-old’s boxing evolution, three months before the newly-upgraded world champion boxes former two-time unified titleholder Anthony Joshua at Wembley in an exciting London duel.
As Joshua next, it’s not all doom and gloom for Dubois
Daniel Dubois (c) vs. Anthony Joshua for IBF world heavyweight title
September 21, headlining six-fight card at Wembley Stadium
Another all-British world title bout — CBS-Riakporhe at Selhurst Park, June 15
- “I was probably the missing piece of his jigsaw and he’s that fighter I’ve been waiting for all along, to come and be able to carry out what I actually do teach,” Don Charles on his relationship with Dubois, as the 26-year-old’s fifth head coach since heavyweight champ turned pro in 2017
- Dubois, who began his career in the paid ranks after 18 amateur fights in four years across seven nations, has experienced highs and lows but continues developing mental strength and resilience following high-profile disappointments. Joshua too, is rebuilding himself back to the top
- Making history: Joshua-Dubois could break the UK boxing attendance record, as the event organisers are hoping excess demand will help them push with the local council to extend stadium capacity to 100,000 at Wembley. Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko (April 2017) holds the record
DANIEL Dubois’ critics have been loud and unapologetically themselves over recent years assessing the Briton’s chances of sustained success in a ruthless sport where even small vulnerability chinks can be decisive against the elite.
However, the former world title challenger has grown from experiences – good and bad – appearing to turn a new leaf as criticism again intensified after a controversial TKO debut in Wroclaw by undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk last August.
That matchup was his first under the guidance of new head trainer Don Charles, having spent two years being tutored by Shane McGuigan and co.
After surviving three knockdowns and a knee injury requiring surgery to overwhelm career cruiserweight Kevin Lerena nine months prior at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the Fury-Chisora 3 undercard, former WBA (Regular) champion DDD went into his first full championship contest undercooked.
Truthfully he travelled to unfamiliar territory with little more than a puncher’s chance in the eyes of many against the slick, skillful southpaw who reigned atop the 200lb division before twice outboxing Anthony Joshua to clinch unified heavyweight gold.
He acquitted himself well, landed a fifth-round contentious body shot ruled low that could’ve seen him produce an upset stoppage win and had opportunities after before succumbing to an uptick in Usyk pressure as they waded in deep waters.
Charles is pleased that, over the course of ten short months since that painful experience on a muggy night in Poland, Daniel hasn’t just proven his mettle or ability to withstand adversity, but prevailed too. Learning lessons, especially as someone without an extensive amateur background, was key to his progression.
Per BoxingScene.com’s Tris Dixon, the 62-year-old – known for training Dereck Chisora and Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka among others – had this to say:
“It’s called maturity, people forget the young man’s age – it’s a factor – he didn’t have an extensive amateur career, didn’t go to the Commonwealth Games, world champions, Olympics, so really doesn’t have the experience.
He turned pro at 19, practically learned on the job. Without being disrespectful to any of the previous coaches who I think have done tremendously until the baton was handed to me, we get on, the chemistry is there.
He bought into my ethos of coaching, I’m a natural father with a son and maybe that’s what he needed. The way I deliver information to my boxers – not just Daniel – it’s a number of factors that adds to what you’re seeing now.”
September 21 card, is as follows
Daniel Dubois (c) vs. Anthony Joshua for IBF world heavyweight title
Anthony Cacace (c) vs. Josh Warrington for IBF, IBO world super-featherweight titles
Joshua Buatsi vs. Willy Hutchinson for WBO interim world light-heavyweight title
Tyler Denny (c) vs. Hamzah Sheeraz for EBU European middleweight strap
Middleweight: Liam Smith vs. Josh Kelly
Lightweight: Mark Chamberlain vs. Josh Padley
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes hyperlinked
Mo and Sports 