DON CHARLES: ‘ONLY GOD CAN PREVENT US!’
During his own ring career as an amateur super-heavyweight, Don Charles failed to advance beyond the London ABA divisional stage.
However, the native Nigerian coach, who served as a sparhand to the likes of Gary Mason, ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith and Danny Williams, finds himself commissioned with masterminding a winning strategy for when Dereck Chisora challenges formidable Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko for the WBC World Heavyweight title in Munich on Saturday night.
Before departing, the courteous, well spoken flower shop owner spoke with Glynn Evans about how he intends going about it.
The Bigger They Are… Klitschko v Chisora is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/ Virgin Ch. 546) on Saturday 18th February. Join at www.boxnation.tv
How do you reflect upon Chisora’s abortive European title challenge to Robert Helenius in Helsinki last December?
I’ve not come across a single person who believes the Finn deserved the split decision he was given yet, on the strength of his performance that night, it’s Dereck who gets the world title shot.
Initially there was a massive despondency within the whole camp when Helenius received the verdict over Dereck. However, after the initial shock had gone, the disappointment ended because it was so clear cut who had really won. Like you, I’ve not heard of one neutral who believes that Helenius deserved the decision. The American tv crew had Dereck winning ten rounds to two. Dereck won the fight convincingly but the officials ‘gave’ it to Robert, a fighter who’s been breast fed a load of wins then failed miserably when the time came to step up against a live opponent. It was outrageous. They must think everyone is stupid. Decisions like that risk killing the sport. There was absolutely nothing we could do to prevent that so they can call the result what they like.
The challenge to Klitschko comes just 11 weeks after Dereck’s gruelling fight with Helenius. Is that a concern? How has your preparation gone?
No, it’s no concern. Dereck took a week off after the Helenius fight to rest his body then began his preparatory work on December 17th. Over the holiday period, Dereck was extremely professional about what he ate. All told, we’ll have had a nine week program. Everything went really well and we’ve had no major injuries to manage.
He’s been sparring the obvious candidates who physically resemble Vitali, Pricey (Olympic bronze medallist David Price) and Tom Dallas, to name but two.
We always tailor make Dereck for whoever but you can get too hung up on tactics and techniques. At the end of the day, when you get rid of all the trimmings, Dereck and Vitali are going to have a fight. Together we’ll work very hard to get Dereck in the best possible condition to win that fight; do whatever it takes to emerge victorious within the rules.
Twice last year you prepared Dereck for world title challenges with Vitali’s brother, Wladimir, then the IBF and WBO champ only for the fights to fall out of bed at late notice. How do the brothers differ? What adjustments have you needed to make?
We’ll prepare for Vitali exactly as we did for Wladimir. Both are orthodox and they’re similar in height and style. They’re slightly different characters but we’ll need very little adjustment. Vitali certainly isn’t an easier option than Wladimir but he may prove easier for us. He’s certainly easier to hit. He has no defence and, unlike Wlad, comes to engage which should be brilliant for Dereck.
How do you account for Dereck’s surrender of his British and Commonwealth titles to Tyson Fury last July? It was easily his biggest test yet he arrived out of condition, roughly 18 pounds above his usual fighting weight.
The ability and desire have always been there but, heading up to the Tyson Fury fight, Dereck had something of a mental meltdown. Dereck insisted on going through with the fight but, as his coach, I should have been strong and pulled him out. I hold my hands up. It’s called experience. I’d never allow a fighter into the ring again in such a condition.
But who wouldn’t be deflated and depressed after the way he was treated by Wladimir, after putting his heart and soul into preparing, only for his big opportunity to be pulled away at a couple of days notice? Dereck was just brushed aside without any proper explanation. It resulted in Dereck being inactive for almost a year and Tyson Fury, a very talented young man, was able to take advantage of Dereck, at Dereck’s worst time.
It appeared as if Dereck struggled to come to terms with Fury’s height and reach. Klitschko has a similar frame. Is that a worry for you?
No, and I have to correct you. It’s true Dereck didn’t perform against Tyson Fury, who’s a similar frame to Vitali but, what people must realise is that he never struggled to get inside Tyson’s reach. He achieved that easily but simply lacked the energy to work Tyson’s body because he came in so overweight.
So how do you win in Germany on Saturday night?
Hit Vitali hard on the chin and knock him out!
Dereck really needs to stick to our gameplan and Dean (Powell, who will assist as a second) and myself will be in the corner to guide him. We’ve got Plans A,B , C, D right through to Plan Z. We’ve done everything humanely possible to triumph and only God can prevent us, if it isn’t His will. By the grace of God, I’ll be trainer of the world heavyweight champion on Sunday morning.
The Bigger They Are… Klitschko v Chisora is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/ Virgin Ch. 546) on Saturday 18th February. Join at www.boxnation.tv
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