Dubois, who lost to Oleksandr Ursyk at Wembley Stadium, had attended a party organised by his father on the very day of the fight.
In a revelation that has stunned boxing fans and sparked intense debate in the sport’s circles, British heavyweight Daniel Dubois is reported to have attended a party hosted by his father just hours before his knockout defeat to Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, July 19.
According to The Times, Dubois, 27, arrived at the venue less than 90 minutes before the fight, raising serious questions about his preparation and mental readiness.
The undefeated Ukrainian champion, Usyk (24-0, 38), retained his undisputed heavyweight title with a clinical fifth-round knockout — his second straight win over Dubois.
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Dubois Partied With Guests He Did Not Know
Reports indicate that Dubois spent the early part of fight day at a party organized by his father, Stan Dubois, at their Essex home. The event reportedly drew around 70 guests, many of whom were not personally known to the boxer.
Dubois' departure from the gathering was delayed as transportation logistics fell apart, with Stan eventually driving his son to Wembley himself.
However, their vehicle was turned away at the venue gate due to a lack of proper accreditation, further delaying the boxer’s entry and pre-fight preparation.
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Dubois’ Trainer Clarifies Situation
Don Charles, Dubois’ trainer, has defended the decision, linking it to past success.
“It might seem crazy to a lot of people, but it's the same method that got us the victory [against Anthony Joshua]. I understand why Stan Dubois, with his out-of-the-box methods, would try to replicate it,” Charles told talkSPORT, as quoted by Sky Sports.
Despite the unusual circumstances, Charles emphasized that this was part of a broader, if unconventional, strategy from the Dubois camp — one which they had hoped would yield another upset.
Stan Dubois has played a significant role in Daniel’s life and career. In the lead-up to the bout, the heavyweight had shared the influence his father had on his self-belief.
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“He always said I’d win the world heavyweight title and become a legend like Frank Bruno, Lennox Lewis, or Nigel Benn from that era of fighters who were real men,” Dubois said.
However, following the public revelation of the pre-fight events, fans and pundits alike are questioning whether this paternal influence is now more of a distraction than a motivator.
Dubois’ Night to Forget
The defeat to Usyk marks Dubois’ third career loss, and perhaps his most disappointing. While the Ukrainian champion remains unbeaten and firmly atop the heavyweight division, the spotlight now shifts to Dubois — not just for what happened in the ring, but for what transpired before he ever stepped into it.
With the dust settling and post-fight analysis underway, one question lingers: Was Daniel Dubois truly ready for the biggest fight of his career?