In a significant and unexpected development for British boxing, heavyweight contender Daniel Dubois is set to reunite with his former coach Don Charles, marking the latest twist in the fighter's professional journey.
A Partnership Rekindled After Reflection
The decision represents a full reversal from last summer, when Dubois and Charles parted ways shortly after the Briton suffered his second career defeat to the legendary Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk. That high-profile bout took place at Wembley Stadium in July, the same venue where Dubois had previously secured his most famous victory.
The Statement from Team Dubois
On Monday, Dubois's business manager Riz Khan issued an official statement via the boxer's Instagram page to confirm the reunion. "On behalf of Team Dubois, I wish to confirm to the media and all relevant parties that Daniel has decided to resume his professional relationship with Don Charles and his coaching team," the statement began.
It continued, "Don Charles and his team guided Daniel to World Champion status and oversaw the most successful period of his career. Following the defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, Daniel took time to reflect on his journey and the emotions surrounding the decision to part ways with Don."
The statement elaborated that "after careful consideration and discussion with the wider team, Daniel has chosen to reverse that decision. Daniel will now return to working with Don Charles, under whose corner he achieved his greatest accomplishments to date." The announcement concluded with a promise that "further fight news" would be shared in due course.
The Successful Era Under Charles
Dubois first began working with Don Charles in 2023 after splitting from previous coach Shane McGuigan. Their inaugural fight together was a world title challenge against Usyk, which ended in a ninth-round stoppage despite Dubois controversially flooring the champion with a low blow.
The partnership then flourished spectacularly, producing three consecutive stoppage victories between December 2023 and September 2024 against formidable opponents Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and most notably Anthony Joshua. The triumph over Joshua at Wembley was particularly historic, as Dubois dropped the former champion multiple times before securing a fifth-round knockout to claim the IBF heavyweight title that Usyk had vacated earlier that year.
The Path to Reunion
Following the career-defining win over Joshua, Dubois faced Usyk in a highly anticipated rematch for the undisputed championship. Usyk delivered an improved performance, stopping Dubois in the fifth round to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion. Neither fighter has competed since that July encounter.
In the immediate aftermath of that second loss to Usyk, the 28-year-old Dubois made the decision to separate from Charles and briefly trained under the guidance of Tony Sims. However, as he prepares for his in-ring return, the heavyweight has now opted to return to the coaching setup that orchestrated his greatest professional achievements.
This reunion suggests Dubois believes his most productive path forward lies with the team that previously guided him to world championship glory, as he aims to rebuild his career towards another title shot in the competitive heavyweight landscape.
