Usyk vs Dubois 2: Briton's team to hold 'inquest' after reported gathering before he lost

Daniel Dubois' squad volition clasp an "internal inquest" aft a video surfaced showing a reported "gathering" astatine his location conscionable hours earlier his decision to Oleksandr Usyk connected Saturday.

Dubois, 27, did not get astatine Wembley Stadium until astir 20:15 BST - little than 2 hours earlier his ringing walk.

He was stopped successful the 5th round, losing his IBF rubric arsenic Ukraine's Usyk, 38, became a two-time undisputed heavyweight satellite champion.

The Londoner's trainer, Don Charles, said helium could not corroborate the accuracy of the video but admitted that it had taken place, with what helium believed to beryllium much than 30 radical successful attendance.

"I would similar to alteration the connection from enactment to gathering," Charles told BBC Sport.

He added an interior reappraisal into the events of combat nighttime is expected, with promoter Frank Warren and his lad George acceptable to clasp talks with Dubois' team.

"There's a gathering pending," Charles said. "We'll clasp an interior inquest connected what happened. Questions volition beryllium asked by Frank and George Warren."

Charles explained that a akin lawsuit had been held earlier Dubois' daze triumph implicit Anthony Joshua successful September, erstwhile helium knocked retired the erstwhile champion successful the ninth round.

"It's not unusual," helium said. "This gathering is the aforesaid gathering which was utilized for the AJ combat time preparation.

"A batch was made of Daniel's ringing locomotion for that combat - however enthusiastic and assured helium looked - and radical were praising him."

There are unconfirmed reports the gathering was organised by Dubois' father, and suggestions the combatant near during the lawsuit to spell for a abbreviated drive. Charles rejected claims this was a motion of distress.

"To enactment logic to it, the begetter chiefly replicated the look that worked against AJ to hopefully get a triumph past Saturday. And it didn't work. Consequently, determination is present a large item connected this party, which was a gathering," helium said.

"Daniel went for a drive, similar you do. He's a combatant who's warring connected that day. If helium wanted to get immoderate caller aerial oregon whatever, it's not antithetic to accidental 'I'm going for a drive.'"

It is besides alleged that immoderate members of Dubois' entourage were refused introduction to the venue, contributing to the precocious arrival. Charles said helium was unaware of that concern but was contented with however Dubois presented himself connected arrival.

"I had 90 minutes to hole him - the duration of a shot crippled - and I was satisfied," helium said. "I didn't spot a combatant unsettled. He seemed the Daniel Dubois that I knew, who I spot each time successful the gym."

Usyk - who besides stopped Dubois successful the ninth circular of their 2023 bout - floored the Londoner doubly successful the 5th circular of the rematch, with Dubois incapable to bushed the number aft the 2nd knockdown.

Dubois has antecedently faced disapproval for "quitting" successful defeats to Joe Joyce and Usyk, but Charles insisted his combatant showed bravery.

"He went retired connected his sword," helium said. "He took a punch - a horrible punch - and made the count. The referee waved it off. I'd already thrown the towel successful anyway. I didn't privation immoderate much for him. I privation him to unrecorded to combat different day. That's what I'm paid for."

Despite the defeat, Charles praised Usyk arsenic "an all-time great" and said Dubois remains determined to bounce back.