Daniel Dubois’ sickness value him a ‘career highest’ payday for title defence in opposition to Joseph Parker

When sickness pressured Daniel Dubois out of his scheduled world title defence in opposition to Joseph Parker, he didn’t simply lose the prices he’d sunk into his coaching camp. He missed out on a career-high payday.

Given he’d headlined in opposition to Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in his earlier contest, that may have been a considerable sum.

Dubois had been resulting from field Parker in Riyadh on February 22. However a sudden sickness abruptly dominated him out of the battle.

His coach Don Charles has little doubt withdrawing Dubois was the proper plan of action.

“Upon the recommendation of the doctors we opted not to put our fighter in that situation, save him from that situation. Live to fight another day,” Charles instructed Sky Sports activities.

“We did the correct factor. Every single day I get up, I do know we did the correct factor. You need to typically save fighters from themselves. Daniel needed to battle. They’re gladiators. They need to battle.

“I don’t think it’s wise thing in a championship fight to go and take that chance of if you don’t blow Parker out in the first half of the fight, who’s to say because you’re ill, illness doesn’t kick in.”

Dubois has subsequently been criticised for not going by means of the bout.

“He shouldn’t have fought and we didn’t and I’m glad,” Charles insisted. “It does anger me when I hear some of the comments of people. I always repeat: we’re not in the macho business, we’re in the smart business.”

Provided that Dubois took the Parker battle as a voluntary defence, that Dubois had accomplished a full coaching camp for the competition and had travelled out to Riyadh for the battle, the IBF heavyweight champion had each incentive to field, if he’d been match to take action.

The monetary incentive alone would have been enormous.

“We had to do the smart thing. I also remind the audience this was Daniel Dubois’ highest pay to date in his professional career,” Charles revealed. “His career-highest purse.

“Three and a half months of sheer laborious work and the cash that it prices to do a camp of that magnitude.

“We then went all the way to Riyadh, 48 hours before he’s due to fight he showed signs of illness.

“It value him cash. To do a 3 and half month camp at this degree, it prices some huge cash. So he is misplaced all that. The entire group, we’re gutted.

“When I’m hearing people say ‘oh he ducked it’, ‘he ducked the fight’ – it’s not logical. It is what it is. We’re where we are and we look forward.

“Why would you then go to all the difficulty of an costly camp, journey to Riyadh after which choose to not battle? For what?

“Let me tell you something about the human race – they want blood,” he added. “We’re still bloodthirsty. It’s back in the medieval days, they’re still thirsting for blood. Somebody’s blood. That’s what that’s all about.”

Viral sickness has affected Dubois in a few of his earlier camps. “It’s a reoccurring illness. We need to get to the bottom of it and see what’s causing it,” Charles stated.

However he’s anticipated to field in the summertime. Dubois might meet unified champion Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed heavyweight world title battle, though Parker is the necessary challenger for Usyk’s WBO belt.

Parker’s group hope he will get the shot at Usyk earlier than Dubois. “Everybody’s got their opinion, Parker deserves this, Parker deserves that. Parker’s a lovely human being, he’s a brilliant boxer,” Charles stated.

“Who am I to say that he doesn’t deserve it? If it’s for him and his people are able to manoeuvre him, good luck to the man. All I know is Daniel’s ready to fight anybody.

“Whoever our promoter brings to us subsequent is who we will battle.”

When it comes to considering who ‘deserves’ the Usyk fight, Charles points out that Parker didn’t miss out on a fight or a payday when Martin Bakole stepped in for Dubois.

“Additionally pulling him out once we did was the correct time. Think about if it was the day after? [Bakole] bought his alternative there,” the trainer explained. “It did not work out for him however I’ve to salute him for stepping in on such quick discover.

“Eight times out of 10, there’s no replacement, [in that case] Parker would haven’t fought that night. Then you could have an argument as such ‘oh he deserves to get a fight’. He got a good name, he got paid handsomely to have that fight against Bakole. And the way the business is, I’m not a promoter, but it moves. Every second it moves.”

Usyk’s group has been discussing taking the Dubois unification subsequent. “There’s a few options there and that’s one of the options that’s been mentioned. That’s not my department,” Charles stated.

However the coach is adamant that Dubois, who misplaced to Usyk in 2023, is now prepared for the rematch.

“Since we’ve been working together he fought Usyk, [Jarrell] Miller, [Filip] Hrgovic, Joshua, then Parker would have been his next fight. It’s incredible, the run,” stated Charles, who was the Boxing Information coach of the 12 months on the British Boxing Board of Management annual awards in recognition of that success.

“When you’re holding one of the titles, he’s got the IBF heavyweight belt, so you have to be able to take on all comers and that’s where we’re at,” Charles stated of Dubois rematching Usyk.

“He’s a champion, a world champion, Daniel Dubois. We’re in the business of fighting. So long as it makes sense, then yeah.”