The boxing world has scrutinised Daniel Dubois’ pre-fight party following reports from major outlets.
‘Dynamite’ could not replicate his best win of just under a year prior against the formidable Oleksandr Usyk.
Instead, it was a Wembley night to forget as Usyk brutally knocked out Britain’s own in the fifth round after two heavy knockdowns.
But rather than the performance of Dubois being under the spotlight, his supposed pre-fight party has caught the headlines and the anger of a former world champion.
Johnny Nelson fumes at Daniel Dubois’ father for ‘reckless’ pre-fight party
Johnny Nelson, the former WBO cruiserweight champion, didn’t hold back when it came to calling out the 27-year-old’s father, Stan Dubois.
Speaking in an interview with Boxing King, Nelson said: “And if it is true, I have never heard something so foolish, so self-destructive ever.
“Usyk’s camp couldn’t have done a better job than his dad did. So I heard about some kind of celebration party before, I’m like, what are you doing, man?”
Don Charles, who has trained ‘DDD’ since the first Usyk bout, claimed the same gathering had taken place before the Anthony Joshua fight last September.
However, the longest-reigning cruiserweight titleholder continued his criticism of Stan.
“If that’s true, your dad’s reckless, your dad’s dangerous. To me, it’s disrespecting Don Charles, it’s disrespecting the man that has been employed to take your boy to the top,” he said.
“I don’t know him personally, but what I am seeing is foolishness. How can you be so stupid?
“He might as well have not trained at all and just rocked up.”
Everything we know about Daniel Dubois’ unusual pre-fight ‘party’ for Oleksandr Usyk loss
Rumours of an apparent get-together had circulated around the boxing media in the stadium, according to Nelson.
Although, it wasn’t until Monday that details were revealed of the celebration of around 70 people in the house.
A report from The Times had said the then IBF champion had to walk to the event as there was not enough room in the cars – apparently, there were threats of Daniel not fighting if his entourage was not let in.
Charles claimed it was part of his ‘ritual’ before the contest, and it had helped during the AJ encounter.
He dismissed talk of disagreements between Daniel and his father as hearsay but admitted it did throw off the arrival times on the night.
It is unclear whether this affected the mindset or performance of the young Brit but it certainly would not have been a great help to preparations.