When illness forced Daniel Dubois out of his planned world’s title defense against Joseph Parker, he did not just lose the costs he had sunk into his training camp. He missed a career high pay day.
Given that he was the headline against Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in his previous competition, it will have been a significant sum.
Dubois had been because of Box Parker in Riyadh on February 22. But a sudden illness suddenly gave him out of the fight.
His coach Don Charles has no doubt about withdrawing Dubois was the right course of action.
“After the recommendation of the doctors, we chose not to put our fighter in that situation, save him from that situation. Live to fight another day,” Charles told Sky Sports.
“We did the right thing. Every day I wake up, I know we were doing the right thing. You sometimes have to save fighters from themselves. Daniel would fight. They are gladiators. They will fight.
“I don’t think it’s wise in a championship match to go and take that chance if you don’t burst parks in the first half of the match, which has to say because you’re sick, illness doesn’t kick in.”
Dubois has subsequently been criticized for not going through the match.
“He shouldn’t have fought, and we didn’t, and I’m happy,” Charles insisted. “It anger me when I hear some of the comments from people. I always repeat: We are not in the Macho business, we are in the smart business.”
Given that the Dubois took the Parker fight as a voluntary defense, Dubois had completed a full training camp for the competition and had traveled to Riyadh for the match, the IBF tongue weight had any incentive to box if he had been suitable to do so.
The financial incentive alone would have been huge.
Don Charles was the coach of the year in 2024 at the BBBOC Awards
“We had to do the smart thing. I also remind the audience that this was Daniel Dubois’ highest salary to date in his professional career,” Charles revealed. “His career-highest purse.
“Three and a half months of clean hard work and the money it costs to make a camp of that size.
“We then went all the way to Riyadh, 48 hours before he had to fight, he showed signs of illness.
“It cost him money. To make a camp of three and a half months at this level it costs a lot of money. So he has lost all that. The whole team we’re blurred.
“When I hear people say ‘oh, he showed it’, ‘He appeared the fight’ – it’s not logical. That’s what it is. We are where we are and we look forward.
“Why would you then go to all problems with an expensive camp, travel to Riyadh and then choose to not fight? For what?
“Let me tell you something about the human race – they want blood,” he added. “We are still bloodthirsty. It’s back in the medieval days, they are still thirst for blood. Someone is blood. That’s what it’s all about.”
Viral disease has affected Dubois in some of his former camps. “It’s a repetitive illness. We have to get to the bottom of it and see what causes it,” Charles said.
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Fabio Wardley says he’s looking for a shot at a world title in 2025 and would have accepted a showdown with IBF Master Daniel Dubois
But he is expected to box in the summer. Dubois could meet the overall master Oleksandr Unsk in an undisputed titled weight in heavy weight, although parks are the mandatory challenger for the Usyk’s WBO belt.
Parker’s team hopes he gets the shot against usyk before Dubois. “Everyone has their opinion, Parker deserves this, Parker deserves it. Parker is a lovely human being, he is a brilliant boxer,” Charles said.
“Who should I say he doesn’t deserve it? If it’s for him and his people are able to maneuver him, good luck to the man. All I know is Daniel is ready to fight for someone.
“The one our promoter brings us next time is the one we have to fight for.”
When it comes to considering who ‘deserves’ the usyk fight, Charles points out that Parker didn’t miss a match or a payday when Martin Bakole stepped in for Dubois.
“Also to pull him out when we did it was the right time. Imagine if it was the day after? [Bakole] Got his opportunity there, “the coach explained.” It didn’t work for him, but I have to greet him to step in on such short notice.
“Eight times out of 10 there is no replacement, [in that case] Parker wouldn’t have fought that night. Then you could have an argument like that ‘oh he deserves to have a fight’. He got a good name, he got paid nicely to have that match against Bakole. And the way the company is, I’m not a promoter, but it moves. Every second it moves. “
Usyk’s team has discussed taking the Dubois Association Next. “There are a few options there, and that’s one of the options mentioned. It’s not my department,” Charles said.
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Daniel Dubois requires a new match with Oleksandr Usyk after the Ukrainian victory over Tyson Fury
But the coach is firmly by Dubois losing against Usyk in 2023, is now ready for the fight.
“Since we’ve been working together, he fought for usyk, [Jarrell] Miller, [Filip] Hrgovic, Joshua, then Parker would have been his next match. It’s incredible, the race, ”said Charles, there was the Boxing news This year’s coach at the British Boxing Board of Control annual awards in recognition of this success.
“When you hold one of the titles, he has the IBF tongue weight belt, so you have to be able to take on all participants, and this is where we are at,” Charles said of Dubois, who rematched usyk.
“He is a master, a world champion, Daniel Dubois. We are in the process of fighting. As long as it makes sense, so yes.”