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CALLING IN SYK

Daniel Dubois suffers huge blow in Oleksandr Usyk fight after splitting with coach Shane McGuigan amid major row

DANIEL DUBOIS has seen his chances of beating Oleksandr Usyk lengthen even further after he split from trainer Shane McGuigan.

The WBA, whose heavyweight belt the Ukrainian holds along with the IBF and WBO straps, named Dubois as their mandatory challenger.

Daniel Dubois has split from trainer Shane McGuigan
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Daniel Dubois has split from trainer Shane McGuiganCredit: Getty
Oleksandr Usyk is mandated to fight Daniel Dubois
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Oleksandr Usyk is mandated to fight Daniel DuboisCredit: Reuters

The pair were expected to clash in London in July.

But at a media day at McGuigan’s gym on Monday, the respected trainer responded “no comment” to every question about his star heavyweight.

Confusingly, Daniel's superstar sister Caroline is still training at the Leyton gym.

SunSport understands a row between McGuigan and Stan Dubois, head of the fighting family, led to Daniel leaving around a month ago.

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Dubois, 25, has been training with veteran Don Charles, who faced criticism for sending Derek Chisora out for ten rounds of punishment from Tyson Fury in December.

Dubois, battered by Joe Joyce in 2020, has had three comeback wins.

But he was dropped three times in the first round by Kevin Lerena, 31, in December.

Although he turned the fight around to win by KO in round three to maintain his position as mandatory challenger for Usyk's title.

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No deal has been agreed by the two camps so the WBA have scheduled purse bids for May 25.

McGuigan did confirm his split with Dubois and his successor Charles.

He told “I was put in a very compromising position

“I decided to continue my working relationship with Caroline at the expense of losing Daniel really. Which is a bit of a shame.

McGuigan added: “I’m happy that he’s going with Don Charles because Don Charles is a friend of mine.

“I can feel confident that he’s going to get looked after properly. I wish him all the best moving forward.”

Daniel Dubois with former trainer Shane McGuigan
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Daniel Dubois with former trainer Shane McGuiganCredit: Instagram / @shanemcguigan

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