Dubois delayed Usyk match due to partying, threatened to ruin the fight - Sources
Daniel Dubois (photo: Getty Images)
Daniel Dubois reportedly arrived late to his heavyweight championship fight against Oleksandr Usyk not due to traffic or organizational mishaps but because of a party thrown by his father. This may have impacted the British boxer's focus ahead of one of the most important bouts of his career, according to talkSPORT.
Details of the scandalous delay
The fight in which Usyk knocked out Dubois in the fifth round, reclaiming the IBF belt, took place at the famous Wembley Arena.
According to insiders, the Ukrainian arrived at the fight on time, while his opponent showed up as much as 45 minutes late.
This meant the Brit had less than two hours before stepping into the ring, which is extremely little time for proper preparation and warm-up.
Dubois' team has not officially commented on the reasons for the delay, but talkSPORT Breakfast co-host Simon Jordan claims the cause was a party thrown by the boxer's father.
What is known about the party?
The party took place on the day of the fight, right at Daniel Dubois' home. 50 to 70 people were invited.
According to Jordan, Daniel wasn't even acquainted with most of the guests and was forced to leave his own home for a while to avoid unwanted interactions.
This "celebration" not only caused the delay but also created additional logistical problems. The guests had to be transported to Wembley by car, one of which was supposed to transport the boxer himself.
However, according to British media, Dubois was taken to the arena by his father in an unaccredited vehicle. Because of this and the crowd near the stadium, the boxer had to walk to the entrance.
The situation escalated at the entrance to Wembley. Dubois' entourage allegedly began threatening the security guards, saying that if the guests weren't allowed in, the boxer would refuse to step into the ring.
"I'm not looking for excuses, but I'm just saying that I'm not sure the preparation on the day of the event is where it should have been. I'm not saying that Oleksandr Usyk wouldn't have done the same thing to Daniel Dubois, but it doesn't help him," said Jordan.
Daniel Dubois allegedly had a 70-person party at his house just hours before fighting Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) July 21, 2025
He pulled up to the venue less than 90 minutes before his ring walk pic.twitter.com/16An5zM7pg
Usyk knocked out Dubois in the early hours of July 20, winning the title of undisputed heavyweight world champion. This victory enabled the Ukrainian to unify all the major championship titles: WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF.
Now, boxing organizations will begin to pressure the Ukrainian, demanding title defenses.
Earlier, we revealed what Usyk eats before stepping into the ring to stay in top form.
