Daniel Dubois arrived late to Wembley Stadium on Saturday night for his world heavyweight title showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, a fight where the Ukrainian showed his class to win by knockout against the 27-year-old Brit
Daniel Dubois was late arriving to Wembley for the biggest night of his career after his dad held a party at the family home in the afternoon before Saturday’s showdown with Oleksandr Usyk. The Essex-based brawler was resting up ahead of the undisputed showdown at Wembley Stadium when invited guests of his father, Stan, were at the house.
Dubois, 27, briefly left the home because he did not know the people in attendance. His father later drove him to Wembley after private cars which were accredited to enter the area around the national stadium were used to ferry guests to the venue.
That further delayed Dubois’ arrival as the car they travelled in was not accredited and he did not get into the venue until 80 minutes before the scheduled ring walk time. Usyk arrived an hour earlier. There were also chaotic scenes when entering the venue over getting some of those party guests into the venue with Dubois held up in the middle of it all.
Dubois was stopped by Usyk in the fifth round of the fight as he surrendered the IBF belt while the Ukrainian became a three-time undisputed champion.
Promoter Frank Warren has called for Dubois to have six months off and learn from the man he has suffered two career defeats from when it comes to mental resilience.
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The delay getting to the venue has not been used as an excuse by Dubois’ team for the comprehensive defeat at the hands of Usyk. But it is another sign of the odd relationship he has with his father.
Some critics – such as heavyweight Dave Allen – have said Stan should not have been in the corner shouting advice over lead trainer Don Charles. It was Charles who threw the towel in as referee Michael Griffin waved the fight off when Dubois did not beat the count.
Meanwhile, Scotland star Josh Taylor has retired from boxing because of an eye injury. Taylor, 34, won the undisputed light-welterweight crown after a run of victories against Viktor Postol, Ivan Baranchyk, Regis Prograis and Jose Ramirez saw him collect all four belts at 10st.
He has been on a run of three straight defeats against Teofimo Lopez, Jack Catterall and Ekow Essuman, the latter of which a failed move up to welterweight.
But it is a recurring eye injury which has put his eyesight at risk if he kept fighting which is why the Prestonpans puncher is hanging them up to end a career which saw him regarded as Scotland’s best since Ken Buchanan.
He said: “End of an era. I have lived my dream for the last 10 years & conquered Mount Everest. Thank you to every single one of you for the support through what has been this mad rollercoaster of a journey.
“Boxing is all I’ve ever known but now let’s see what life has to offer on the other side of the ropes.”