Daniel Dubois was seen arriving to Wembley Stadium just 90 minutes before his heavyweight clash against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday, as new details claim security refused to let him into the venue.
The timing raised immediate alarm amongst supporters who worried their champion was cutting things dangerously close for what represented the most significant bout of his career. Questions swirled about the reasons behind such a narrow window of preparation time.
The mystery of the delayed arrival persisted throughout the evening, which concluded with Dubois suffering a fifth-round knockout defeat beneath Wembley's iconic arch.
It has now emerged there was a gathering at the Dubois family residence in Essex on fight day which contributed to the delayed departure. Stan Dubois, Daniel's father and mentor, had organised a party that afternoon with numerous guests in attendance.
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|Daniel Dubois had a party before his fight on Saturday
The reserved boxer reportedly felt uncomfortable amongst the crowd, many of whom were unfamiliar to him, prompting him to leave temporarily for a drive. The situation became more complicated when Stan requested additional people carriers to transport his entourage to the stadium.
This last-minute transport arrangement caused further delays to their departure from Essex. Stan ultimately decided to drive his son to Wembley himself, a decision that would create additional complications upon arrival.
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The journey to Wembley descended into chaos when their vehicle was denied access at the stadium, as only pre-approved transport had received proper accreditation.
This administrative oversight forced the boxer and his father to abandon their car in the parking area and proceed on foot to the venue entrance.
Upon reaching the stadium, further complications arose when security personnel initially blocked entry for members of Dubois' entourage.
Stan reportedly made it clear to officials that his son would not enter without his accompanying team, according to The Times.
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|Daniel Dubois was dropped in the fifth round on Saturday
The situation was eventually resolved, though nearly 50 seats had been reserved in the ringside area for Stan Dubois' guests.
The entire episode left minimal time for the champion's pre-fight preparations.
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The contest ended with Usyk delivering a devastating right hook followed by a decisive left hand that floored Dubois in round five.
The Ukrainian veteran, now 38, has established himself as a dominant force in British heavyweight boxing, having defeated Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Dubois twice each.
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|Oleksandr Usyk is now the undisputed heavyweight champion following his win
Promoter Frank Warren attributed the knockout to Dubois lowering his guard through fatigue, stating: "Daniel didn't stick to the task, he got careless, he dropped his hands and paid the price."
Warren remains optimistic about his fighter's future, drawing parallels with Frank Bruno's journey to eventually capturing a world title on his fourth attempt.
"He can punch, he can hurt you and it's just developing other aspects of his game," Warren added.