Daniel Dubois: The Prodigy Who Gave Up His Childhood at Seven to Follow His Father's Dream

DANIEL DUBOIS sacrificed his childhood to become a heavyweight prodigy under the orders of his father – and never questioned it.

The 6ft 5in, 18 STONE powerhouse grew up homeschooled and was by his imposing dad Dave.

Daniel Dubois sacrificed his childhood to become a heavyweight prodigy Dubois with his father Dave in 2020 Credit: Getty Dubois did achieve his dream of becoming world champ Credit: Reuters

From the age of seven, Dubois knew only one thing and that was boxing, grauditing in the school of hard knocks instead of the classroom.

Before he was even born, his dad – – claimed he had a vision that his boy would go onto become world heavyweight champion.

So Dubois – live on DAZN PPV – had no time to ever second guess his upbringing.

He told SunSport: “I never really understood – well I did understand – but I didn’t question it.

“I was just like, this is it, this is what I’m here to do and this will open up other things in life for me, I guess.”

Dubois had two years of training before his first amateur bout at the age of nine – turning professional at 19 without ever having a senior contest in the unpaid ranks.

of boozing, partying and socialising – but never once felt the pressure to make it all pay off.

Dubois said: “I love it. It’s always been within me like, I’ve always felt that I can do this and my dad’s backing it. Since I was a kid he’s told me what we would do and we’ve done it.

“So it’s always felt like this is achievable. It’s hard, but you know, anything worth doing is going to be hard.”

Dubois is not the only fighter in the family, in fact boxing is a family business.

His sister Caroline – – is a world champion while younger brother Solomon is rising the amateur ranks.

Dubois said with a proud grin: “This was it, just a sacrifice my dad put in, setting this up not just me, my brother, my sister, there’s a whole lot of us so. We have to fight.

Prince Dubois (left) next to Caroline, Dave, Daniel and Solomon (right) Credit: Getty Dubois has always been guided by his dad Credit: Getty

“We keep getting better. I was the first experiment. He’s going through it now and has the team that I have surrounding me as well. It’s not just me, it’s a whole machine.”

Despite the success Stan has masterminded for his family, it has come with question marks.

He is an ever-present part of Dubois’ camp and

From his junior days, the heavyweight has switched from trainer to trainer, after losing his title to Oleksandr Usyk last July before they swiftly reunited.

Dubois left the amateurs to turn pro aged 19 Credit: Islington Boxing Club He never boxed as a senior amateur Credit: Islington Boxing Club

But Charles – a veteran cornerman known for his excellent early work with Derek Chisora – defended the father-son dynamic.

He said: “The trust has always been there.

“Again, it’s not me being a hypocrite. Even when we had that little break, I did quite a few interviews, I was saying exactly what I said.

“People don’t quite understand they’ve got a very unique dynamic relationship, Daniel and his father.

“Unless you’re in the team, in the camp – you just have to look closer and say, ‘OK I get it.’

“They have a very very unique uh relationship. Why should I or anybody come and interfere with it? It works, it works for Daniel, it works for me. I’ve learned how to work with it.

“It doesn’t make me what I’m now being labeled as a ‘Yes man’. It doesn’t make me a soft guy, it just makes me a very smart guy who recognises that this young man has, like I said, a very unique dynamic relationship.

“If you understand the dynamics in their relationship, then you will start to accept. Understand and accept. So I promote that and embrace that.”

If Dubois steps in the ring against Wardley at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena – it’s because he is. Last year, he welcomed the birth of his son Zion.

So despite starting his boxing career to appease his dad, his priorities switched overnight.

Charles said: “He’s a human being. Some little child is dependent on him now, it’s not him depending on his father.

“So he’s responsible for that, for that little boy. As a human being, automatically you get this natural kick to say, I’ve gotta provide and succeed at whatever you go to do.”

Victory against Wardley, 30, shoots Dubois, 28, back to the top of the heavyweight tree and proves dad Stan and trainer Charles right for putting their trust in him.

But defeat could spark a long road back to the top – a calculated roll of the dice that Dubois seems totally unfazed by.

He said with a mean poker face: “You’re gonna get a hell of a fight.

“I’m ready to take my moment again and show all the hard work I’ve done, my dad’s done, my team’s done around me.

“It’s not just for me but there’s a lot of people that’s behind me. Now I’m just counting the days.”

Fabio Wardley facing off with Dubois Credit: PA