Daniel Dubois faced a delay in arriving at Wembley Stadium for the most significant fight of his career due to a party held by his father earlier in the day. The Essex-based fighter was relaxing before his bout with Oleksandr Usyk when guests invited by his father caused a disruption at their home.
Dubois, aged 27, left briefly as he was unfamiliar with the guests. His father eventually drove him to Wembley using non-accredited cars, causing further delays. This resulted in Dubois arriving at the venue only 80 minutes before his scheduled ring walk, with Usyk having arrived an hour earlier.
During the entrance, there were challenges in getting some of the party guests into the venue, causing a chaotic situation. In the end, Dubois was defeated by Usyk in the fifth round, losing the IBF belt to the Ukrainian who claimed his third undisputed championship title.
Promoter Frank Warren suggested that Dubois take a six-month break to learn from his defeats and improve his mental strength. Despite the delays, Dubois’ team did not cite them as an excuse for the comprehensive loss to Usyk, highlighting the complex relationship between Dubois and his father.
Critics, including heavyweight Dave Allen, questioned the involvement of Dubois’ father in the fight, suggesting he should not have been giving advice in the corner over the lead trainer. Ultimately, it was the lead trainer who threw in the towel as the referee stopped the fight.
In a separate development, Scottish star Josh Taylor announced his retirement from boxing due to an eye injury, ending a successful career as the undisputed light-welterweight champion. The recurring eye injury posed a risk to Taylor’s eyesight, leading him to make the decision to retire after a series of recent defeats.
Taylor expressed gratitude to his supporters and reflected on his boxing career, looking forward to new opportunities outside the ring.