In the biggest fight week of his life, Daniel Dubois has been without his head trainer Don Charles as he prepares to defend his IBF heavyweight crown against Anthony Joshua at Wembley on Saturday night, l ive on DAZN .
It has been noticeable that Charles had been absent from both the Grand Arrivals on Tuesday and Wednesday's open workout session, with no explanation given by the Dubois camp.
It had led to speculation that the defending champion had split with his coach just days before his huge clash with two-time world champion Joshua. Rumours of a rift had been increased by the recent introduction of assistant coach Kieran Farrell to the Dubois training camp.
However, DAZN News understands that Nigeran born coach Charles is suffering from the flu and has made the decision to stay away from his fighter and the whole camp to ensure he does not pass it to Dubois or fellow trainers.
Charles remains hopeful he will be fit enough to attend Saturday's fight night, at a 96,000 sold out Wembley. While missing such an experienced trainer in your corner will be a concern for Dubois, his father, Dave, will be licenced to be in his corner against AJ.
DAZN pundit and former middleweight world champion Darren Barker believes Dubois's dad's presence ringside will be even more important, as the champion fights at Wembley for the very first time, in the biggest fight of his career.
Barker told DAZN News: "Daniel has a big, strong bond with Charles, so if he cannot make fight night, then that could be pivotal and you just don’t know how that could affect Daniel.
"However, the man the Dubois listens to the most, especially mentally, is his dad. He doesn’t want to disappoint his dad, he wants to make him proud. He is being licensed to be in the corner on fight night and I think if his dad couldn’t be here for the week and on fight night that would be the bigger loss for Daniel.
"That is no disrespect to Don Charles, who is a great coach. I just see that Dubois’s Dad is just so pivotal in any success Daniel has moving forward."
Watch Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois on September 21 live on DAZN.
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