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Dubois trainer Don Charles thanks British boxing legend for emotional journey to Usyk rematch
Saturday night will be the peak of Daniel Dubois’ boxing career as the IBF heavyweight champion takes on Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title, live and exclusive on DAZN PPV.
However, it will not just be Dubois who will experience a career high; it will also be the culmination of a 50-year journey for his head trainer, Don Charles.
Charles has become a respected voice within British boxing, especially when it comes to heavyweights. After being the man behind three devastating knockout wins for Dubois, he has been thrust into the spotlight as one of this country’s premier trainers.
Speaking to Charles a few days before he leads Dubois into battle, he is a man who does not create soundbites.
Instead, Charles is composed, confident, and inspirational with what he says, and inspirational is the perfect way to describe his boxing journey, which started as a teenager when he arrived in the UK from Africa.
“I came to the UK as a 14-year-old in October 1974, which coincided with the famous Rumble in the Jungle historical fight between the great one Muhammad Ali and the great one George Foreman. So that got me hooked, but football was my first love. Playing football in Africa, every kid played football in the streets,” Charles told DAZN News in an exclusive interview.
“I watched boxing here with my father, and that was it. I wanted to be Muhammad Ali. Every kid wanted to be Ali. But I never actually started boxing early because my father wouldn't let me.”
Charles’ life in boxing began at 19 when he joined the All Stars gym in Paddington before moving to Brixton ABC.
During his time there, he was sharing the bags with the likes of Danny Williams, who would go on to challenge for a world heavyweight title and knock out Mike Tyson.
There was, however, no intention from Charles to make a living out of something which he enjoyed as a hobby.
“I didn’t turn professional because I never had any intentions of turning professional. I did it as a hobby. I loved boxing. I represented that club for a short period.
“I had my last amateur fight at the age of 29 and lost a chap called Harry Senior.”
Just two years later, Charles wanted boxing to continue being a part of his life.
Satisfying this itch would not be achieved by lacing up the gloves in Charles’ eyes, and he instead decided to take up coaching.
“I got to the age of 31, I thought to myself, I really miss boxing, but I can't fight anymore. What can I do?
“I thought, let me try my hand at coaching. But how do you become a coach? I didn't know, I didn't have a clue.
“I opened a studio and tried my hand at coaching, not professionals, coaching people who just want to learn the fundamentals of boxing.
“By that time my son was born, George, I thought I'm going to train myself, keep fit, train my colleagues, train people who want to get fit, and just be in boxing.
“It’s almost like when God asked Noah in the Bible to go and build an ark. I didn't realise that's what I was doing. That first studio of mine ended up being an ark. I should call it Don's Ark.”
Charles’ breakthrough as a boxing coach came courtesy of Derek Chisora, a fighter who is synonymous with British fight fans.
After meeting Chisora as an amateur, the two decided to become a team despite Charles having little to no experience training fighters in both codes, and they went on to achieve plenty of success.
“We've had some great victories. We've had losses. I owe that young man, irrespective of whatever, because by chance meeting him, he became a professional boxer and trusted me to coach him. I helped him during his ABAs, he saw what I could do,” Charles said when reflecting on his time with Chisora.
“He trusted me when he got his professional license to become his coach. I was a pure novice, and for him to have trusted me with his career, and we did really well.
“Derek rose through the ranks, won the British title in his 10th professional fight. That's unheard of.”
Charles and Chisora may no longer be working together, but Chisora helped provide the platform that the trainer now finds himself on.
Training a fighter for any major title fight is always the dream for the main man in the corner, and even when that moment arrives, it is still one where a trainer often pinches themselves, Charles included.
“To find myself eight days away from contesting my new charge by the name of Daniel Dubois, who is fighting for the undisputed. It's unthinkable.
“Occasionally, I reflect on the journey, and I get emotional about it.”
Charles has every right to be emotional ahead of what will be the biggest fight of his life in boxing.
What makes this sport great is the long journey people take to get to the top, and Charles’ road to undisputed epitomises this.
From boxing fitness trainer to leading Dubois to heavyweight dominance, Charles is on the brink of something special and historic, and all that’s left is to devise a plan to topple one of this generation’s greatest ever fighters.
Usyk vs Dubois 2 only on DAZN
Watch Usyk versus Dubois 2 live and exclusive on DAZN PPV this Saturday - July 19 - for £24.99 UK; $59.99 US; $19.99/equivalent ROW.
