Team Dubois ‘deeply disappointed’ by loss to Oleksandr Usyk

Don Charles has revealed his disappointment in the aftermath of his charge Daniel Dubois losing his IBF heavyweight crown to Oleksander Usyk.

In their rematch at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, Usyk dropped Dubois twice and stopped him in the fifth round. Usyk, 38, had won their first encounter via stoppage in the ninth round in 2023.

“We’re deeply disappointed,” Charles told BoxingScene. “Of course myself, the fighter, the team, we are deeply disappointed. That’s not what we trained for but unfortunately that is how it’s been written. I’m a firm believer in destiny and I practice what I preach. It wasn’t to be. 

“It wasn’t for lack of trying. It’s just the way it is. We were facing a generational great who will go down in the history of boxing as one of the greatest to have ever gloved up.”

The imperious Usyk became undisputed champion for a third time, having done so once at cruiserweight and twice at heavyweight. 

Dubois, who has rebuilt from previous losses to Joe Joyce and Usyk, is only 27, and was coming into the fight in the form of his career having defeated Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua.

“Daniel has age on his side,” Charles added. “He is okay. He’s well. I spoke to him this morning. He’s going to go for a little break, then he comes back, we regroup and speak to [his promoter] Frank Warren and see where we go.”