#48 Don Charles
Don Charles is perhaps most famous for his work with heavyweight enigma Derek Chisora.
Yet the story of the African-born Charles is fascinating. Yes, he takes us on the wild Chisora ride but he also talks about escaping war-torn Biafra after the Nigerians won a three-year war, he talks about his upbringing in 1970s London, his businesses (running florists, working as a clothing seller in the markets and running a door security firm) and then his break into boxing.
As an amateur super-heavyweight, he sparred the likes of Danny Williams and Henry Akinwande, impressed James 'Bonecrusher' Smith but, disenfranchised after a loss to Harry Senior – whom he'd already beaten – he never fought again. Although there was that press conference brawl with David Haye in Munich...
As a coach, he's trained Frank Buglioni, Chisora, Ajose Olusegun, Ashley Theophane and he now works with, among others, his son George Fox, an up and coming heavyweight.
From running for his life in the African fores...
Don Charles is perhaps most famous for his work with heavyweight enigma Derek Chisora. Yet the story of the African-born Charles is fascinating. Yes, he takes us on the wild Chisora ride but he also talks about escaping war-torn Biafra after the Nigerians won a three-year war, he talks about his upbringing in 1970s London, his businesses (running florists, working as a clothing seller in the markets and running a door security firm) and then his break into boxing. As an amateur super-heavyweight, he sparred the likes of Danny Williams and Henry Akinwande, impressed James 'Bonecrusher' Smith but, disenfranchised after a loss to Harry Senior – whom he'd already beaten – he never fought again. Although there was that press conference brawl with David Haye in Munich... As a coach, he's trained Frank Buglioni, Chisora, Ajose Olusegun, Ashley Theophane and he now works with, among others, his son George Fox, an up and coming heavyweight. From running for his life in the African forests to having his own heavyweight gym in north west London, it's been an emotional roller coaster.