Daniel Dubois’ coach Don Charles responds to pay row after going missing in build-up to title fight with Anthony Joshua

DANIEL DUBOIS’ coach has spoken out amid his absence ahead of the fight with Anthony Joshua to deny “vicious” rumours of a split.

Dubois defends his IBF heavyweight world title against AJ on Saturday in what is expected to be British-record 96,000 sellout.

But ahead of the Wembley war, his head trainer Charles has been missing from all the fight week media activities.

It led to speculation of a rift in the camp and a sensational split just days before the fight.

But Charles insisted – as have Dubois’ team all week – that he has been ill and chose to stay away from his star fighter as a precaution.

He said on talkSPORT: “I’ve been bedridden for the last five days.

“We finished camp successfully like a week ago. And then on Sunday, I felt not feeling very well.

“It’s a head cold, but a very bad head cold and I’ve been in bed literally trying to shake it off.

“The most sensible thing to do was not to go anywhere near my fighter because can you imagine if I gave this to him? Then there will be no fight.

“So, like I said, the most sensible thing is what we did.

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“I spoke to his father, and we obviously decided the most sensible thing to do is stay away and not give this to anybody because this could easily spread right through our camp.

“And then, God knows who else can contract it and then it jeopardises this big show.”

There had been allegations of a fallout between coach Charles and Dubois’ influential father and manager Stan.

Former boxer-turned-media personality Spencer Fearon added fuel to the fire by claiming there had been a rift.

And promoter Frank Warren also said: “I know there is a situation between them, which was over money.

“But that is not my business that’s their business. I spoke to Don, Stan and Daniel.

“Don is ill with the flu and in bed. He wanted to come to the weigh-in and I told him not to and to leave it until Saturday.

“If Daniel caught it on Saturday, the symptoms won’t hit him until the following day.”

But Charles was quick to put to bed any suggestion of civil war in the camp.

The family and the training staff were very, very tight. So this fall out stuff, it’s all ludicrous. It’s a vicious lie.

Don Charles

He said: “There’s a few individuals, for whatever reason, they went around spreading bad, vicious rumours that there’s been a fall out.

“No, there has not been any fall out. I hate to disappoint them. We’re very, together [as a] team.

“The family and the training staff were very, very tight. So this fall out stuff, it’s all ludicrous. It’s a vicious lie.”

Charles confirmed he WILL be in the corner for Dubois – so long as he can fight off his illness.

He said: “I’m a godfearing man. I will always say if God gives us help then 100 per cent I will be in his corner, that’s the plan.”

In Charles absence, assistant trainer and padman Kieran Farrell has been leading the charge while receiving instructions on the phone.

Charles revealed: “We have a routine, every set-up has a routine.

“We have a fight week routine. Basically, my team members they all know what we do.

“And I’m on the phone first thing in the morning and they know what to do with the fighter.

“The fighter knows what to do so collectively, they’re able to do it.”