‘WHYTE IS RUNNING AWAY FROM CHISORA’
Declan Warrington catches up with one of the most underrated coaches in Britain
DON CHARLES’ career was revived on the same December night as Dereck Chisora’s, when the heavyweight thrilled against Dillian Whyte after Frank Buglioni, another of his fighters, won the British light-heavyweight title. With Buglioni making his first defence against Ricky Summers on Saturday (July 1), Charles discusses what the future holds.
What should be expected of Buglioni, both on Saturday and in the wider picture of his career?
He’s a ready-made fighter who came to me: it’s my job to identify areas to improve him and we’re doing that. You’re going to see a guy who’s very hard to hit: that’s what needed doing. We’ve only been together 12 months. Against Hosea Burton there were signs but that was six months in; he’s made another transition.
Every trainer will tell you their fighter will go all the way [and win a world title] and I’m no different. Never mind what I believe; he believes he can. He’ll be successful, in the future, in winning a world title. Any fighter that comes through the gym doors, I’ll say to them the minimum requirement is a British title. If I can’t get you to be a British titlist, or you haven’t got the talent, I shouldn’t be training you.
The same night Buglioni won his title, Chisora excelled against Whyte. How positively do you reflect on that, despite him not getting the decision?
Oh my God: we expected that [performance]. Even today I get stopped, ‘You guys won that fight’. We know we won; it was a great night. Dereck won against Dillian, and Frank went through tough waters. When it’s your night, it’s your night. There was no way we were going to win that had it gone the distance; Buglioni pulled it out of the bag and it was ecstacy.
We just knew, before, we were going to have a great night. Dereck already told us ‘I’ve got this’; his body language gives it off, we just knew. One’s the fight of the year and Frank’s was the runner-up: that’s remarkable.
Chisora didn’t look himself after you split, until you were reunited before the Whyte fight, so why did the split happen?
It was amicable. I gave him the opportunity many times, ‘Don’t hesitate to go and work with someone else if that means you winning a world title.’ I believe he’s that good. All the fights we’ve
‘I’LL ALWAYS HAVE THAT CONNECTION WITH DERECK’
lost: with the exception of Whyte [and Robert Helenius, when there was another controversial decision], every opponent was a world champion or went on to be one, and Whyte’s good enough to be.
After the [second] Fury fight I was really destroyed because I believed we’d win. We sat down and it was ‘Maybe I’ve got to my limit as a coach and I can’t help this young man anymore’. It was probably the unhappiest time in my boxing career. I used to watch him fight [without me] and feel sad. It really hit me hard, but I love the sport too much [to consider walking away from it]. It also gave me an opportunity to put time into my gym [Punch London]. The reason you know me is because of Dereck; I’ll always have that connection. I missed him; I’m sure he missed me. Maybe we needed that separation, and it revitalised him as a fighter. The losses we have are not just losses; they are experiences, and I’m really looking forward to the future. I’ve got to improve in what I did wrong as a coach, and he as a fighter. Regardless of me not being his coach we were in constant communication; I frequently speak to Dereck’s mother. One day we were [going to reunite] and it happened. Tell me another fighter who hasn’t won a world title who’s earned the money Dereck has. And he’s physically and mentally intact. Within the next 18 months, he’ll be lifting a version of the world title. I don’t care who it is – Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker – I dare them to give him a chance.
Will the Whyte rematch happen?
That’s the most obvious fight. We know why Dillian is running away: where is he going to get that type of money? If he fights for a world title tomorrow, he won’t get paid a quarter of what he’s been offered. Chisora’s management team have made the offer and Dillian doesn’t want any of it; whoever’s advising him is advising him wrong. By public demand, the rematch will happen.
Chisora had been lined up to face Helenius again, so do you expect that first?
No. Helenius is not on our radar. They were supposed to fight and that didn’t happen, but we’re not chasing him.
Finally, you’ve long spoken of your high hopes for your son George Kobe Fox. What is the latest regarding him?
Watch this space. His style’s never been that of an amateur boxer. I can name you so many fighters like that. We’re going to keep him in the gym, and by January, February, God willing, I believe he’ll be a professional heavyweight, and then let’s see what he does.