While Oleksandr Usyk was meditating in silence or shadowboxing in a darkened room, Daniel Dubois was allegedly stepping over sausage rolls and trying to keep strangers out of the downstairs loo — all thanks to his dad turning fight day into a full-blown Essex garden party.
According to Simon Jordan on talkSPORT, Daniel’s dad, Stanley, thought it was a cracking idea to host seventy people at the family home. On the actual day of the fight. Not a press event. Not a send-off. Just a big loud knees-up at the house where Daniel still lives.
So while Usyk’s camp probably smelled like deep heat and laser focus, Dubois was apparently stuck listening to some bloke in the kitchen asking if there’d be jello shots before they all headed to Wembley.
Dubois is known for being a quiet lad — keeps to himself, gets the work done, doesn’t say much. The exact opposite of whatever this was. Word is, the house got so packed and loud that Daniel just got in his car and went for a drive. Not to clear his head before the biggest fight of his life — to get away from Uncle Keith asking if he could bring his missus and her mate along to the ring walk.
Too Many Guests, No Plan
Then came the travel genius. Stanley — apparently realising he’d created an unofficial fan zone in his own house — tried to sort out extra cars to take everyone to Wembley. That flopped. So what did he do? Drove Daniel himself.
Except… the car wasn’t accredited for fighter access.
So the IBF heavyweight champ ended up walking through the Wembley car park like he was late for a job interview at the hot dog stand. No entourage. No tunnel walk. Just Daniel, probably wondering how it all went this sideways.
Even better — there’s reportedly video of Stanley having it out with security, refusing to let Daniel go in unless his whole crowd could come in too. Nothing sets the tone for a world title fight quite like your dad trying to bribe a steward with a Greggs sausage roll while Sharon live-streams it on Facebook yelling “we were promised VIP!”
Walked to the Ring Like a Fan
While all that madness was happening, Usyk was somewhere being calm, creepy, and clinical. No noise. No drama. Just showing up and doing what he does — and in Round 5, he flattened Dubois with a punch named “Ivan.” Not someone from the party. A proper, sharp right that ended the night.
Meanwhile, Daniel looked like someone who hadn’t had a moment of peace all day. His dad was reportedly barking over his trainer during the fight — actual shouting during corner time.
Nothing helps during a heavyweight war like your old man weighing in over the top of the bloke getting paid to keep you alive.
Don Charles Reacts
Trainer Don Charles, speaking to talkSPORT, insists the whole thing was deliberate. Method. Not madness.
“Let’s retract that word, it wasn’t a party — it was a gathering,” Charles explained.
“There might have been more people for this second gathering to get more energy, I’m a logical man and it makes logical sense. “The AJ fight was big but this even trumps it, I try to understand and it may appear madness to people but it was the same thing that got us victory.”
And when asked if Dubois even knew who was at this energy summit, Charles replied:
“I can’t tell you he did. I wasn’t there.”
Which, sure, sounds exactly like a tight-knit, coordinated strategy from a unified team.
Leave Dad at the Pub
Sometimes, dads just need to stay in the pub. Not ringside. Not barking at the trainer. Just parked in a corner with a pint, a packet of Scampi Fries, and zero access to the security gate.
Daniel deserved better. Next time, no guest list, no buffet, no backseat coaching — just a straight road to the ring and no one nicking the last sausage roll.
Last Updated on 07/22/2025