Even before the curtains open at Wembley, it seems like the drama surrounding the protagonists has been quick to come to light. In front of a packed house, on September 21, Daniel Dubois will defend his IBF heavyweight championship against Anthony Joshua. Putting aside his previous losses, the 27-year-old boxer is more than eager to establish his name among the heavyweight A-listers. And to establish that he is ready to accomplish the feat, he has already delivered two outstanding results during the last eight months.

However, rumors emerged that something was not alright in his camp. It primarily concerned the terms between Dubois’ father, Dave Dubois, and his trainer, Don Charles. Considering the fact that he is about to face one of the division’s biggest names, such a discourse might prove quite disconcerting, especially to fans. However, a fresh update might have alleviated the concerns. Chancing upon it, a few fans even took to their keyboards and shared their thoughts.

The underlying issue

Journalist Chris McKenna‘s post read as follows: “Don Charles has the flu/cold and has stayed away from media events this week. He won’t be at the press conference or weigh-in. But he will be in Daniel Dubois’ corner this weekend.” It follows a parallel report that featured former boxer and now leading promoter Spencer Fearon, sharing his views on the alleged tension between Dave Dubois and Don Charles.

So Fearon was speaking with Boxing Social. The reporter wanted to know whether the promoter still considered Anthony Joshua to win the match by early stoppage. Spencer Fearon asserted that his views hadn’t undergone any changes. He said, “Don Charles said that this fight is spiritual right, and we haven’t seen Don Charles all the week.”

But then he added, “You know why, because I know there’s been some rift between Don Charles and the dad, right?” Reiterating his faith in Joshua’s win, Fearon expressed his disappointment with Daniel Dubois’ father. He recalled how following the Usyk fight, he had advised Don Charles to keep his job, training Daniel Dubois.

Following a closer review it appears the Boxing Social post and the YouTube video featuring the Fearon interview have been taken down.

Viewpoints at loggerheads

So Chris McKenna’s post might relieve a lot of worries. Before dwelling on what the followers commented on his message, let’s check what a user wrote after coming across Spencer Fearon’s interview. This follower in fact checked whether Daniel Dubois separated from former trainer Shane McGuigan on similar grounds, because of issues related to the boxer’s father. This is what the follower said: “Didn’t he leave McGuigan because of his dad?“

One user expressed their gratitude to McKenna following his clear explanation of the situation. But as much as it clears the air, the user acknowledged that there might still be a few who doubt whether Dubois has any chance against ‘AJ’. They said, “Thank you for cutting through the crap. And that’s a relief. If still a concern for those thinking Dubois has a shot.“

Especially following what Spencer Fearon spoke about Dave Dubois, the next user also thanked Chris McKenna for putting concerns to rest. “So Dubois father isn’t a c**t according to Spencer Fearon, and it’s just the flu. Yep, thanks for clearing that up, Chris.“

However, like many, the next follower also appears to question Dubois’ chances. Hence, they doubted whether it was all an attempt to justify potential shortcomings before they became evident. They said, “Getting the excuses in early.“

Likewise, the next one too expressed their skepticism over McKenna’s post. Otherwise, they asked why, during an interview, Daniel Dubois claimed not to know the whereabouts of Don Charles. The issue could have been resolved instantly instead of allowing people to gossip over it. “I don’t believe this at all. Why, when Dubois was asked in the interview, did he say he doesn’t know where Don Charles was??? They could have put it all to bed, but they chose to carry on with the speculation!” The user contended.

So hopefully, Daniel Dubois will have a full corner on fight night. After all, it is one of the biggest fights of his career.

A win over Anthony Joshua will not only prove his mettle but also put him on the fast track to much bigger paydays and championships, including unification and undisputed titles. Hence, it’s critical that all such distracting issues are put on the back burner. At least that’s what fans would want.

Do you believe that Daniel Dubois is the next big thing in heavyweight boxing?