How Daniel Dubois' destiny to KO Anthony Joshua and rematch Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley was sealed after moving gyms
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
DANIEL DUBOIS' knockout of Anthony Joshua and rematch against Oleksandr Usyk is a case of destiny calling.
Dubois was beaten in Poland after nine rounds by Usyk in August 2023 - which was his first fight under trainer Don Charles.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
10
Daniel Dubois with trainer Don Charles
Credit: YouTube/Sun Sport News
10
The Wembley arch overlooks Dubois' gym
Credit: YouTube/Sun Sport News
10
Now he rematches Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley
Credit: Getty
10
Dubois also knocked out Anthony Joshua at Wembley
Credit: Getty
But together, they bounced back with big wins over previously unbeaten pair Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic in Saudi Arabia.
And after being elevated to IBF champion when Usyk vacated the belt - Dubois' crowning night came in September when he KO'd Joshua at Wembley.
The British heavyweight star now returns to England's 90,000-seat national stadium to rematch Usyk on Saturday night for the undisputed titles.
And - like he has for the past two years and four fights - he has prepared for the bout at head coach Charles' Pug gym in Borehamwood.
READ MORE IN boxing
KID GLOVES Dubois was so powerful as a teen I had to tell him to go easy on adults
Wembley is just ten miles away and the stadium's arch overlooks Dubois' gym from a distance - with destiny staring him right in the face.
Charles told SunSport after welcoming us into his gym: "The first day he arrived, he had no idea.
"I told him I had a surprise, a new place that I wanted to show him and his father.
"The minute they drove in - like you did today - I stood there and said, 'What can you see on the far side?'
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
10
USYK VS DUBOIS 2: Stream, TV channel and undercard info for blockbuster Wembley fight
Watch Usyk vs Dubois 2 LIVE on DAZN
"They looked, they looked, they didn't know what they were looking for. I said, 'That's your destiny. The Wembley arch, that's your destiny calling. That's your destiny beckoning.'"
Dubois linked up with Charles after leaving Shane McGuigan but had just 14 weeks with his new coach before fighting Usyk.
In camp with Daniel Dubois ahead of Oleksandr Usyk bout
A low-blow in round five - which Dubois argued was legal - marred the bout in controversy.
Usyk, 38, later went on to become undisputed champion by beating Tyson Fury, 36, before dropping the IBF belt to take the rematch which he also won.
Dubois, 27, meanwhile cemented himself as a true champion by flattening Joshua, 35, with a right hand in round five of their Wembley war.
And Charles says the boxer he took to Wroclaw is unrecognisable from the man that stands in front of him today.
He said: "We tried to cram everything to fight a genius of a fighter in the name of Usyk who since then has become undisputed.
10
This is the controversial low-blow from 2023
Credit: TNT Sport
10
Usyk went on to stop Dubois in round nine
Credit: RICHARD PELHAM
"So we had 14 weeks to cram everything because when you fight a southpaw there are rules that you must obey when you're in front of a southpaw.
"Imagine trying to cram that into a new fighter, the working relationship, the trust wouldn't be there irrespective of whether it's Daniel Dubois or whoever else.
"The trust and the working relationship between a fighter and a trainer takes time to develop. Now it's been 24 months, there's a lot of development in all different areas.
"Daniel's two years older, two years wiser, all the ethos of boxing of the boxing that we teach here in this Pug gym, he understands the ethos we teach.
"And, the trust has developed, why? For many reasons; the numbers of fights that he has been with us, they're all wins with the exception of the Usyk fight.
"And the way he's beat his personnels, two unbeaten fighters and one was a double world champion. The way he disposed of them, remarkable."
10
Dubois is in great shape ahead of the Usyk rematch
Credit: YouTube/Sun Sport News
10
Dubois sinks a body shot into Charles' rips
Credit: YouTube/Sun Sport News
10
The pair have been training for two years now
Credit: YouTube/Sun Sport News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
19 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Lions hooker Dan Sheehan insists all eyes are on series whitewash over Australia
Now that the celebrations for securing an unassailable 2-0 series lead have subsided, the Lions have hardened their resolve to sign off their expedition Down Under with a 100 per cent record. If they triumph at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Saturday, they will become the first Lions side in almost a century to win every Test. A dramatic 29-26 victory in Melbourne has placed Andy Farrell's men on the brink of greatness, but Sheehan admits the review of the second Test was 'not pretty watching for a lot of it'. 'It would be disappointing if we didn't show up on Saturday,' the Ireland hooker said. 'It would be different if the series was in the balance, but we've always been pretty clear on our goals – to go unbeaten overseas and win the series 3-0. So we just need to stick to what we said. 'There are a lot of people who have put a lot of effort into travelling out for this game and a lot of our families will be here as well, so there's plenty of motivation. And I can only imagine what the Australians are feeling now as well. 'We are searching for an 80-minute performance this weekend. The people and the talent we have are crazy. We just need to get them all working. 'There's also an individual onus on how you show up to a game – myself included because there are a few moments in the second Test when you're wondering what you were doing. We can be a lot better, definitely in that first half. 'But that's part of rugby. It's such an imperfect game that you've got to get over those moments pretty quick. And you get another chance on Saturday, hopefully.' The British and Irish Lions players celebrate their series victory over Australia (David Davies/PA) Farrell names his team on Thursday and must decide to what extent fresh legs are needed following two bruising Tests against the Wallabies, but the indications from the management are that the strongest possible XV will be fielded. That rules out rotation for anything other than those players who are running on empty, which could include flankers Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne after their lung-busting shifts in Brisbane and Melbourne. Second row Joe McCarthy, centre Sione Tuipulotu and wing Mack Hansen all come into contention after recovering the injuries that forced them to miss the second Test. If he has fully proved his fitness by Thursday, Hansen has an especially strong chance of being involved given wings James Lowe and Tommy Freeman have yet to impress in the series. Blair Kinghorn is also an option to start. Sheehan dived over for the Lions' first try in the second Test against Australia (David Davies/PA) Sheehan's excellent form will see him continue at hooker and the 26-year-old will continue to find novel ways to unlock defences after his 'superman' try from close range during the second Test. 'I took the first free-kick and got absolutely melted trying to go low. Then for the second one I just thought 'if I have a dive here…',' he said. 'I didn't know if they had anyone in the back. It was just a throw and hope and I slipped through. I can see all the controversy about it, but I did know that you can dive in the air if you score.'
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Lions hooker Dan Sheehan insists all eyes are on series whitewash over Australia
Dan Sheehan insists the British and Irish Lions have all the motivation they need to whitewash Australia while delivering their finest performance on tour. Now that the celebrations for securing an unassailable 2-0 series lead have subsided, the Lions have hardened their resolve to sign off their expedition Down Under with a 100 per cent record. If they triumph at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Saturday, they will become the first Lions side in almost a century to win every Test. History made 🦁 #Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025 A dramatic 29-26 victory in Melbourne has placed Andy Farrell's men on the brink of greatness, but Sheehan admits the review of the second Test was 'not pretty watching for a lot of it'. 'It would be disappointing if we didn't show up on Saturday,' the Ireland hooker said. 'It would be different if the series was in the balance, but we've always been pretty clear on our goals – to go unbeaten overseas and win the series 3-0. So we just need to stick to what we said. 'There are a lot of people who have put a lot of effort into travelling out for this game and a lot of our families will be here as well, so there's plenty of motivation. And I can only imagine what the Australians are feeling now as well. 'We are searching for an 80-minute performance this weekend. The people and the talent we have are crazy. We just need to get them all working. 'There's also an individual onus on how you show up to a game – myself included because there are a few moments in the second Test when you're wondering what you were doing. We can be a lot better, definitely in that first half. 'But that's part of rugby. It's such an imperfect game that you've got to get over those moments pretty quick. And you get another chance on Saturday, hopefully.' Farrell names his team on Thursday and must decide to what extent fresh legs are needed following two bruising Tests against the Wallabies, but the indications from the management are that the strongest possible XV will be fielded. That rules out rotation for anything other than those players who are running on empty, which could include flankers Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne after their lung-busting shifts in Brisbane and Melbourne. Second row Joe McCarthy, centre Sione Tuipulotu and wing Mack Hansen all come into contention after recovering the injuries that forced them to miss the second Test. If he has fully proved his fitness by Thursday, Hansen has an especially strong chance of being involved given wings James Lowe and Tommy Freeman have yet to impress in the series. Blair Kinghorn is also an option to start. Sheehan's excellent form will see him continue at hooker and the 26-year-old will continue to find novel ways to unlock defences after his 'superman' try from close range during the second Test. 'I took the first free-kick and got absolutely melted trying to go low. Then for the second one I just thought 'if I have a dive here…',' he said. 'I didn't know if they had anyone in the back. It was just a throw and hope and I slipped through. I can see all the controversy about it, but I did know that you can dive in the air if you score.'
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Lions hooker Dan Sheehan insists all eyes are on series whitewash over Australia
If they triumph at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Saturday, they will become the first Lions side in almost a century to win every Test. A dramatic 29-26 victory in Melbourne has placed Andy Farrell's men on the brink of greatness, but Sheehan admits the review of the second Test was 'not pretty watching for a lot of it'. 'It would be disappointing if we didn't show up on Saturday,' the Ireland hooker said. 'It would be different if the series was in the balance, but we've always been pretty clear on our goals – to go unbeaten overseas and win the series 3-0. So we just need to stick to what we said. 'There are a lot of people who have put a lot of effort into travelling out for this game and a lot of our families will be here as well, so there's plenty of motivation. And I can only imagine what the Australians are feeling now as well. 'We are searching for an 80-minute performance this weekend. The people and the talent we have are crazy. We just need to get them all working. 'There's also an individual onus on how you show up to a game – myself included because there are a few moments in the second Test when you're wondering what you were doing. We can be a lot better, definitely in that first half. 'But that's part of rugby. It's such an imperfect game that you've got to get over those moments pretty quick. And you get another chance on Saturday, hopefully.' The British and Irish Lions players celebrate their series victory over Australia (David Davies/PA) Farrell names his team on Thursday and must decide to what extent fresh legs are needed following two bruising Tests against the Wallabies, but the indications from the management are that the strongest possible XV will be fielded. That rules out rotation for anything other than those players who are running on empty, which could include flankers Tom Curry and Tadhg Beirne after their lung-busting shifts in Brisbane and Melbourne. Second row Joe McCarthy, centre Sione Tuipulotu and wing Mack Hansen all come into contention after recovering the injuries that forced them to miss the second Test. If he has fully proved his fitness by Thursday, Hansen has an especially strong chance of being involved given wings James Lowe and Tommy Freeman have yet to impress in the series. Blair Kinghorn is also an option to start. Sheehan dived over for the Lions' first try in the second Test against Australia (David Davies/PA) Sheehan's excellent form will see him continue at hooker and the 26-year-old will continue to find novel ways to unlock defences after his 'superman' try from close range during the second Test. 'I took the first free-kick and got absolutely melted trying to go low. Then for the second one I just thought 'if I have a dive here…',' he said. 'I didn't know if they had anyone in the back. It was just a throw and hope and I slipped through. I can see all the controversy about it, but I did know that you can dive in the air if you score.'
