Trainer Don Charles has made one thing crystal clear: there will be no pre-fight party for Daniel Dubois ahead of his heavyweight showdown with Fabio Wardley this Saturday in Manchester.
It’s a firm stance born from hard lessons. Back in July, Dubois arrived at the arena less than two hours before his ringwalk against Oleksandr Usyk, following reports of a gathering at his home. That night ended in a fifth-round stoppage, costing him the IBF title and sparking an internal inquest within his camp.
Interestingly, the same type of gathering had taken place before Dubois’ stunning ninth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua in September 2024. What worked then, however, backfired against a fighter of Usyk’s caliber.
“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 before the Joshua fight—that gave birth to the ringwalk. They tried to replicate it, but it didn’t work. I can guarantee there will be no gathering before this fight.”
Now, Dubois is chasing redemption and a second world title. He faces fellow Briton Fabio Wardley at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, with the WBO heavyweight crown on the line. Despite the controversy, Dubois has kept his sense of humor, joking that they’d “have a bigger party this time” before turning serious.
“I went up against one of the greatest fighters of this generation,” Dubois said, reflecting on his Usyk loss. “I’m glad I have the experience of sharing the ring with him twice.”
The road back hasn’t been straightforward. Dubois and Charles parted ways after the Usyk defeat, ending an 18-month partnership. But they reunited later in 2025, and the chemistry is back.
“He was ticking over and training,” Charles recalled. “He went on holiday for five weeks to get some sun, then went to Tony [Sims] before coming back to familiar territory. There wasn’t a lot of talking—there was a lot of embracing. I love all my fighters. When he walked in with his father, we embraced, and I said, ‘Welcome home.’”
With the party talk firmly behind them, all eyes are now on Saturday night—where Dubois aims to prove that focus, not festivities, is the key to reclaiming glory.