FOUR weeks on from a second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, Daniel Dubois has made the decision to split from trainer Don Charles as he begins a fresh start and long road toward becoming a two-time heavyweight world champion.
Dubois, 22-3 (21 KOs), appointed Charles ahead of his first meeting with Usyk in 2023, after previously working with Shane McGuigan, and before that, Martin Bowers.
Yet, despite suffering a defeat to the Ukrainian in his first outing under Charles’ tutelage, the appointment proved to be a successful one, with Charles getting the very best out of Dubois over the last couple of years.
The Londoner halted Jarrell Miller before two upset stoppage wins against Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua saw ‘Triple D’ first earn the IBF heavyweight world title, and then defend it in a historic night at Wembley Stadium.
Nevertheless, when this new, confident version of the 27-year-old was tasked with Usyk for a second time, the Briton’s change in personality, attitude and celebrity failed to mask the difference in skill that was so obvious in their first encounter.
Instead, in fact, Usyk scored a more damning, dominant victory this time around. A deserved knockout after five rounds of boxing brilliance, and an outcome on paper that accurately reflected the disparity in abilities that were on offer under the Wembley Arch last month.
Fast-forward four weeks and Dubois remains in contention, rated as the WBC’s #2 contender upon his return to the rankings and possibly just one victory away from another challenge for the heavyweight throne.
That being said, Dubois clearly believes that a change is needed if he is to develop further, with esteemed boxing journalist Dec Warrington revealing that the Greenwich-based knockout artist has split from Charles, in favour of a move to Tony Sims.
“Daniel Dubois and Don Charles — the trainer who led him to his three best wins — have parted ways after he lost to the heavyweight increasingly described as the best ever. He’s started working with Tony Sims, who led Anthony Joshua to his first world title… Dubois is never dull.”
This change comes just days after Dubois’ assistant trainer Kieran Farrell revealed that he had left Team Dubois and Sam Jones’ appointment as Dubois’ new manager was unveiled.
Jones, also works with Jack Catterall and Johnny Fisher, has since revealed that Dubois could return as early as December, for what would be his first fight under Sims.
