Daniel Dubois struggled to get a foothold in his second fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
Dubois has matured as a man and improved as a boxer since his first fight with Usyk back in August 2023. After losing that one by KO in the ninth round after seemingly losing confidence in himself, he has put together three top-level KO wins to get into this fight with much more of a chance in the eyes of many.
However, Usyk came out fast and landed three sharp jabs that snapped back the head of Dubois. From then on, the now two-time undisputed heavyweight ruler was in control, mesmerising his young opponent with his footwork and feints and picking him off with well-timed shots. He finished proceedings in the fifth with two knockdowns.
One man who was in attendance for the fight was fellow British heavyweight Dave Allen, who has sparred both Usyk and Dubois in the past.
Speaking on talkSPORT Boxing, Allen didn’t hold back on his criticism for Dubois’s corner right from the off.
“At the end of round one, I believe Daniel’s dad was shouting double-jab right hand, taking over the corner. Don Charles is the coach. Daniel and his dad have got a great relationship, but there’s one trainer.
“If I were in camp with Jamie Moore for 10 weeks and my dad came here and started giving me instructions, he’d be told where to go by me and Jamie. It’s ridiculous. He’s a great coach, Don Charles. Daniel Dubois’ father should not be giving any instructions. He’s not a boxing coach. It was a shambles, it went all wrong for Daniel.”
Allen was then asked if Dubois looked poor.
“He was yeah. This is a world champion with his hands by his chest, falling over his feet, couldn’t even cut the ring off, I thought he looked poor.”
Dubois will look to rebuild and come again, while Usyk is now linked with a mandatory defence against Joseph Parker as his most likely next opponent.