Daniel Dubois determined to dazzle on his date with destiny
However, he knows avenging his stoppage loss to Usyk in their first meeting in August 2023 will fulfil an early prophecy made by his father and make him one of the most recognisable domestic stars.
Dubois told The Guardian: 'I'm setting out to do what my dad talked about in the beginning, before I even was a real fighter.
'He always said I would win a world heavyweight championship and then I'd win it outright and become a legend like Frank Bruno, Lennox Lewis and Nigel Benn (from) that era of fighters where there were real fighting men.'
Dubois bounced back from his first career loss to Joe Joyce in 2020 by racking up four straight wins before running into Usyk, who handed him a one-sided beating before the Ukrainian went on to cement his own name at the top of his sport with two wins over Tyson Fury.
But Dubois responded by seizing his chance to pick up the vacant IBF belt with victory over Filip Hrgovic and underscored his improvement with his four-knockdown triumph over former champion Joshua.
Despite going into the fight as a significant underdog, Dubois is convinced he is a different fighter to the one whom Usyk picked off with relative ease in their first meeting.
'I'm a different fighter now,' added Dubois. 'There have been real improvements. I'm doing things I've always done but I'm doing them better. Maybe I just want it more now.'
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Daily Mirror
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Daniel Dubois trainer Don Charles on war, florist life and how Chisora made him a coach
Daniel Dubois trainer Don Charles is a character of many careers but now finally at the top of the heavyweight division as a leading coach of the IBF champion Don Charles has lived a few lives. A child in a war zone, a florist, working in fashion retail and now a boxing trainer to a world heavyweight champion to name just a few. The latter is thanks to a chance meeting with Derek Chisora at a petrol station. Charles, 63, will be in the corner this weekend when Daniel Dubois takes on Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed showdown at Wembley. But if his father didn't get out of Nigeria in 1974 then the crazy path he has taken may never have happened. 'I was in a civilian conflict,' said Charles. 'My country is called Biafra. We were in conflict, a three-year conflict with Nigeria. 'I was six years old when that war started and I was nine years old when it finished. And then my father was a bank worker who moved to England and was allowed to bring his family with him. So I came to England after that war.' Charles is asked about the conflict, it is uncomfortable for him. 'It's still something I probably need to get counselling for, because when I start talking about it, if I start expanding it, I'll start, I always break down,' he said. 'I saw a lot of horrible things where, forever running away from planes, shooting indiscriminately, they're not, they weren't just fighting the soldiers, they were targeting civilians. I lost close family members, I'm lucky to be alive, me personally.' Charles settled in London, boxed as a teen and he would, over time, find his way through various careers after dismissing his father's pleas to return to Nigeria to go to university. After being homeless, he lived with another family for a time to stay in England. Odd in itself but even stranger when it was the 1970s and the family was white. 'Where I come from, my tribe is called Igbo,' he said. 'We are known for making something, creating something out of nothing. I've done various things, I run a security company, my own security company. I opened a flower shop, I'm not a florist by trade, but I learnt about it. Did really well with it. 'I've done fashion retail, no matter what I turn my hand to, I always seem to make good of it. And boxing happens to be something I've excelled in as a coach.' Charles had set up a fitness class for paying customers and brought some boxing into the classes but it wasn't until he met Chisora that he really turned his hand to training fighters. 'I went to put petrol in my car and my late friend Des started talking to Derek and Des told him that the man, me, putting petrol in my car, that I'm a boxing coach, that if he wants to get better, he needs to see me,' said Charles. 'I went to pay for my petrol, at the same time he went to paid for his petrol in the shop. I said, so you're a boxer? 'He said, yeah. And I gave him my number. I'd just got the keys 10 days prior to meeting him for my first gym. It wasn't built, it was an underground, disused car park. Really horrible smelly car park, but we made good of it. And that's where Derek was born. That's where I was born, in a sense, as a boxing coach.' Charles worked with Chisora until 2019 and they split. They rekindled their relationship before he lost to Tyson Fury for a third time in 2022 in his second world title shot. He teamed up with Dubois before his first fight with Usyk in 2023. That was a defeat but since then they've been on a run of three huge wins including knocking out Anthony Joshua at Wembley to defend the IBF belt. He seems at home at Dubois' 'The Farm' gym in Borehamwood. He sometimes feeds the horses that are in the adjacent stables. Given Charles' history you wouldn't rule out an equine career.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Oleksandr Usyk v Daniel Dubois 2: What time is the fight, how to watch and undercard details
It is 14 months since Oleksandr Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis, and he can repeat the feat with victory over Briton Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday. Usyk claimed all four major titles with a win over Tyson Fury by unanimous decision, before Dubois won the IBF interim title with a stoppage against Filip Hrgovic last June. This was upgraded to full status after Usyk relinquished the title to focus on other fights before Dubois retained the belt with an explosive fifth-round knockout against Anthony Joshua in September. Now Usyk and Dubois meet for the second time, with controversy from their first bout in 2023 still lingering. Dubois believed he knocked down the Ukrainian legally, but his punch was deemed a low blow before Usyk went on to secure a ninth-round stoppage. Here is all you need to know about the big fight. When is Usyk v Dubois 2? This Saturday, July 19. The ringwalks are expected to begin at 9.45pm UK time, with the first fight of the undercard starting at 5.40pm. These times are always approximate, though. Where is Usyk v Dubois 2? At Wembley Stadium, and the 90,000-capacity venue has an 11pm curfew so unlike other big boxing events it should finish promptly. The national football stadium has hosted some memorable fights including Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko and Carl Froch v George Groves. Where to watch Usyk v Dubois 2 in the UK This article contains affiliate links from our advertisers. This means that Telegraph Media Group will earn a commission if you click a link, buy a product, or subscribe to a service. DAZN have exclusive rights to live coverage in the UK, and you can watch the whole card for the price of £24.99. Watching the fight in the United States will cost you $59.99, with an equivalent price of $19.99 in the rest of the world. You can watch the fight on the DAZN app, available on smart TVs, phones, tablets, streaming devices, games consoles and web browsers. Click here to purchase the fight individually or as part of an annual DAZN package. Is Usyk vs Dubois 2 on the radio? Yes, there is live coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 8pm. Darren Fletcher presents from ringside, with commentary led by Ronald McIntosh, alongside Steve Bunce and the former WBC Super-Middleweight champion Richie Woodhall. Adam Catterall, our very own Gareth A Davies, Spencer Oliver, Dave Allen, and John Rawling will be covering the fight on Talksport. Watch the Usyk v Dubois promo video What is the Fury v Usyk 2 undercard? Lawrence Okolie vs. Kevin Lerena (For Okolie's WBC silver heavyweight title) Daniel Lapin vs. Lewis Edmondson (For Lapin's IBF Intercontinental and WBA Continental light heavyweight titles) Vladyslav Sirenko vs. Solomon Dacres (Heavyweight) Aadam Hamed vs. Ezequiel Gregores (Super lightweight) Lasha Guruli vs. James Francis (Super lightweight) What are Usyk and Dubois' career records? Usyk v Dubois Nationality: Ukrainian v British Age: 38 v 27 Height: 6ft 3in v 6ft 5in Reach: 78in v 78in Total fights: 23 v 24 Record: 23-0 v 22-2 KOs: 14 v 21 What are the odds? Usyk to win: 3/10 Dubois to win: 13/5 Draw: 16/1 Betting on the fight? Take a look at these best boxing betting sites for free bets to use on tonight's card What people are saying about the fight? Speaking to Carl Frampton, now working as a DAZN reporter, Usyk said: 'Daniel is a great fighter and has had a very good run since we first fought. 'He is a better fighter since we fought. He is more of a man, more of a boxer. He deserve this shot. 'But he has a little bit of an [mental] issue. He is maybe a little bit afraid. I am too, but my afraid is different to his afraid. 'Wembley will be a show, the people will be supporting Daniel, but in the ring this is my work, I don't hear that. I just work and win.' Dubois told DAZN: 'I feel like I was robbed out of a victory in the first fight [due to the low blow call]. I think there could be a weakness in him with the body shot. 'I just have to throw the kitchen sink at him this time. I now get a chance to rectify that result, to prove myself. That's what I intend to do. 'I know myself better now. I'm trusting myself better now as a fighter. I have grown up now, I am a better fighter now since the last fight. I've gone from a boy to a man. 'So, I can't wait to get in there now and do the business. 'Wembley is where I did it last time [against Joshua] and I want to do the same again in front of the UK fans.'
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
I feel like I can't be beat right now – Dubois feeling good ahead of Usyk fight
Dubois (22-2, 21KOs) and WBA, WBO and WBC champion Usyk (23-0, 14KOs) are days out from a blockbuster contest under the arch in London where all four belts in the blue-riband division will be on the line for the first time in England. Usyk was victorious during their first meeting in Poland back in 2023, but Dubois has rebuilt his career with impressive knockout wins against Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and compatriot Anthony Joshua during the past 18 months. During an interview with the BBC before his workout at BOXPARK Wembley, Dubois said: 'I have resurrected myself, resurrected my career and now we're on a roll. Unstoppable, I feel like I can't be beat right now. I'm in the prime of my life and I'm going to go through whatever I have to do.' Each media event until Wednesday has produced a flashpoint, with the first face-off on April 28 ending prematurely after Dubois pushed Usyk in the chest on the Wembley pitch. A day later and Dubois' trainer Don Charles insisted Usyk deserved an 'Oscar' for his antics in 2023 where the Ukrainian was given more than three minutes to recover from a punch by the British boxer deemed to be an illegal low blow. Dubois upped the ante again at the start of fight week on Tuesday when he shouted his own name in Usyk's face outside Wembley in response to chants in support of his rival, but Wednesday passed without incident. Within five minutes of Dubois entering the canvas at 5.15pm to strong applause, the 27-year-old was out and heading for the exit following barely 60 seconds of shadow boxing. A post shared by Queensberry (@queensberrypromotions) 'I'm grateful for this opportunity and ready to seize it. I'm ready for the moment. 'Tune in on Saturday because we're going to get that victory. Come on! 'To the whole team it means a lot, to all of us. We've worked hard for this and we're not going to let this one go.' Usyk did ensure his workout lasted longer, but not by much, with the venue beginning to clear by 5.30pm. After being announced to a thunderous ovation, with several Ukraine flags on display, Usyk proceeded to dance, shadow box and take a couple of hits to his body before he concluded a five-minute session with a reference to the ongoing war in his home country. Wearing a black t-shirt with the words 'Free Azovstal Defenders' across the chest, Usyk highlighted the phrase, which refers to Ukrainian soldiers defending the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol from Russia, and then left the ring without an interview as attention now shifts to Thursday's press conference at Wembley.
