Don Charles admitted being caught off guard by Oleksandr Usyk's aggressive approach during the Ukrainian's knockout victory over Daniel Dubois. The trainer of the former IBF heavyweight champion shared his thoughts about the fight that ended with his fighter on the canvas in round five.
"Only one thing: he was more aggressive than usual. His approach was aggressive, and it worked," Charles explained when discussing Usyk's surprising tactics.
Despite the outcome, Don Charles insists his team had prepared Dubois for various scenarios ahead of facing the undisputed champion. The British fighter's repeated mentions of creating "chaos" in the ring may have actually worked against him, tipping off Usyk about their intended strategy.
"We really prepared for any surprises. He knew we would be aggressive because Daniel had been saying throughout all press conferences that it would be chaos," Charles noted.
Interestingly, the trainer believes this verbal approach backfired. "The word 'chaos' was constant. Obviously, when someone tells you: 'This will be chaos,' you prepare," Charles added, suggesting Usyk's camp effectively countered their game plan.
The result speaks for itself – Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KO) handed Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21 KO) a fifth-round knockout in their rematch, further cementing the Ukrainian's dominance in the heavyweight division.
Could Dubois have benefited from a less telegraphed approach? Perhaps keeping strategic intentions closer to the vest might serve the British heavyweight better in future championship opportunities.
