MANCHESTER, England – Don Charles believes that Daniel Dubois conquered the self-doubt he would have taken into Saturday’s contest with Fabio Wardley.
In what seems certain to be considered the fight of 2026 Dubois recovered from heavy knockdowns suffered in the first and third rounds to stop in the 11th the defending WBO heavyweight champion and to inflict his first ever defeat.
Dubois’ previous fight, in July 2025, had ended in the fifth round when he was stopped by Oleksandr Usyk and widely accused of quitting.
In each of his three defeats – two by Usyk and the first by Joe Joyce – he has been accused of lacking heart, and perhaps not unreasonably. After the “worst start” they could have hoped for against Wardley at the Co-op Live, however, the 28 year old recovered to win what might prove his most memorable fight.
It was after the second of the defeats by Usyk that Dubois separated from Charles, appointed Tony Sims as his new trainer, and rehired Charles without having had a single fight during that period.
Wardley, 31 and also of England, was considered the favourite largely on account of the considerable heart he has long been recognised as having and which he demonstrated once again.
Dubois entered Saturday’s contest without the luxury of a keep-busy fight to put the date with Usyk behind him. Charles therefore attempted to rebuild his confidence during their fight preparations by repeatedly playing at his gym footage of Dubois stopping Anthony Joshua in 2024.
“It has to come from within,” Charles told BoxingScene. “That’s what he did for himself.
“It’s subliminal programming. Every human brain is the same – it’s all subliminal stuff. Daniel occasionally catches it – it’s a reminder of what he can do and what he has done.
“I’ve normally got a lot to say but I’m lost for words.
“I’ve got to thank God Almighty, the most high, and the universe that we trust.
“I haven’t digested it. I’m coherent. I know where I am. I know what’s happened. But I haven’t actually started to digest it.
“It was the worst start you can have. The worst start we could have. He showed what a warrior he is. He got up. You had two warriors in there that wanted to win. I’m lost for words. I really am.”
Asked if he had been concerned with either knockdown Charles responded: “No, he’s fit. When you’re fit you’ve got a better chance of recovering. There were big shots. Most people [wouldn’t get up] – and Fabio can hit. Fabio can hit.”
The trainer was also asked about whether Wardley should have been rescued before the intervention of the referee Howard Foster 28 seconds into the 11th round.
By the time of the fight’s conclusion Wardley was grotesquely cut on the bridge of his nose and his right eye was swollen shut.
“I’m not at liberty to answer that ‘cause that’s what the referee and the doctor is there to do,” he perhaps tellingly said.
