Daniel Dubois’ coach has denied “appalling” split rumours amid his absence ahead of his fight with Anthony Joshua.
Dubois will defend his IBF heavyweight world title against AJ on Saturday, with a British record 96,000 sold out crowd expected.
3
3
But ahead of the Wembley battle, his head trainer Charles has been missing from all fight week media activity.
This led to speculation of a rift in the camp and a sensational split just days before the fight.
But Charles insisted – as Dubois’ team had said all week – that he was ill and had decided to stay away from his star fighter as a precaution.
he said talkSPORT“I have been bedridden for the last five days.
“We successfully finished the camp a week ago. And then on Sunday I didn’t feel very well.”
“It’s a head cold, but a really bad head cold and I’m lying in bed trying to get rid of it.
“The smartest thing to do was not go to my fighter, because can you imagine if I gave it to him? Then there would be no fight.
“So, as I said, the most sensible thing to do is what we did.
AJ vs Dubois: Preparing for the big fight
Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois will face off at Wembley this Saturday.
Ahead of the all-British heavyweight clash, here are all the big stories and things to know…
Casino Specials – Best Casino Welcome Offers
“I spoke to his father, and we obviously decided the most sensible thing to do was to stay away from him and not give it to anyone, because it could easily spread in our camp.”
“And then, God only knows who else could get infected and then it would jeopardize this big show.”
There were allegations of rift between coach Charles and Dubois’s influential father and manager Stan.
Former boxer turned media personality Spencer Fearon added fuel to the fire by claiming there has been a rift between the two.
Promoter Frank Warren also said: “I know they have a dispute about money.
“But that’s not my job, that’s their job. I talked to Don, Stan and Daniel.”
“Don is sick with the flu and is in bed. He wanted to come in for a weight test, but I told him not to and asked him to wait until Saturday.
“If Daniel got the disease on Saturday, he wouldn’t show symptoms until the next day.”
But Charles was quick to dismiss any signs of civil war in the camp.
The family and the training staff were very close. So this whole thing is ridiculous. It’s a vicious lie.
don charles
He said, “Some people, for whatever reason, are spreading bad, malicious rumours that there has been some disagreement.
“No, there have been no disagreements. I don’t want to disappoint them. We are very united as a team.
“There was a very close bond between the family and the training staff. So this whole thing is ridiculous. It’s a cruel lie.”
Charles confirmed that he would always be there for DuBois – as long as he could fight his illness.
He said: “I am a God-fearing man. I will always say if God helps us I will stand by him 100 per cent, that is my plan.”
In Charles’ absence, assistant trainer and padman Kieran Farrell has been taking over, receiving instructions over the phone.
Charles explained: “We have a routine, every set-up has a routine.
“We have a week-long fight schedule. Basically, everyone on my team knows what we do.
Read more at The Scottish Sun
“And I’m on the phone first thing in the morning and they know exactly what to do with the fighter.
“The fighter knows what he needs to do, so collectively they are able to do it.”
