Trainer Don Charles has made one thing crystal clear ahead of Daniel Dubois' heavyweight showdown with Fabio Wardley: there will be no pre-fight party.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's clash at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena, Charles guaranteed that Dubois' camp will avoid the distractions that plagued his last world title fight. The 28-year-old arrived just two hours before his ringwalk against Oleksandr Usyk in July, after reports of a gathering at his home. The result? A fifth-round stoppage loss that cost him the IBF heavyweight crown.
Dubois' team later held an "internal inquest" into why the party was allowed to happen. But here's the twist: a similar event preceded his stunning ninth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua in September 2024. That victory, of course, was a career-defining moment.
"It's not ideal to have a gathering on the day of the fight," Charles told BBC Radio 5 Live's Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast. "I'm not here to justify it, but they did the same gathering before the Joshua fight—that gave birth to that ringwalk. They tried to replicate it, but it didn't work. I can guarantee there will be no gathering before this fight."
Dubois, ever the showman, joked they'd "have a bigger party this time" before getting serious. "It wasn't why I lost," he said of the Usyk defeat. "I went up against one of the greatest fighters of this generation, and I'm glad I have the experience of sharing the ring with him twice."
The road back hasn't been smooth. Dubois and Charles parted ways after the Wembley loss, ending an 18-month partnership. But they reunited later in 2025, with Charles noting that Dubois "was ticking over and training" during the break, even squeezing in a five-week holiday for some sun before returning to familiar territory.
Now, Dubois aims to become a two-time world champion against fellow Briton Fabio Wardley—a fighter who rose from white-collar boxing to world title contention. With the party talk firmly behind them, all eyes are on Saturday's clash in Manchester. Will focus over festivities be the difference?