Former IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois made headlines last year when splitting from trainer Don Charles following a devastating 5th-round knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
However, the decision was quickly reversed after a short stint at Tony Sims’ gym in Essex. Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) has since been drafted in to challenge British rival Fabio Wardley for the WBO world title at the CO-OP live Arena in Manchester in May 9.
“Daniel went to train somewhere else and Daniel felt it wasn’t working for whatever reason,” Dubois’ advisor, Sam Jones said in an exclusive interview with Boxing Social. “Whatever anybody says about Daniel, I think it takes a lot of balls to turn around and say that I want to go back to where I was because I feel more comfortable there.”
Jones was brought onto Dubois’ team after the loss to Usyk. The former champion hit the news for all the wrong reasons after the contest, with it coming to light that Dubois held a party at his house the day before the defeat.
Jones continued: “People are always going to make a mountain out of a molehill, because Daniel is not the type of guy to start going on social media. It’s in through one ear and out the other. Daniel has come straight back into the mix in a high fight, coming off a loss to the best heavyweight of this era. I need to point that out. The best heavyweight of this era! Without a doubt. And he’s going straight back in against somebody who is on an unbelievable run of form. It’s an amazing fight, like I said, I’m genuinely very proud to be a very small part of it.”
Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) was elevated to champion after some impressive form, securing knockout victories against Frazer Clarke, Justis Huni and Joseph Parker. The Ipswich knockout artist will make the first defense of the belt Usyk vacated. Dubois makes his first return since losing to the Ukrainian at Wembley Stadium.
“It’s two brilliant fighters in their primes,” Jones added. “If I wasn’t involved in the fight, I would be going to the fight. Because I look at it and see that someone is getting clipped here. It’s brilliant. This is what we want to see. It’s the best heavyweight fight that has been made at the moment by a mile. This is what I’m in boxing for, mate, being a part of these nights.”
