Dubois Pushes for Itauma Fight Sooner Rather Than Later
WBO heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois has publicly called for a future showdown with rising British contender Moses Itauma, telling Sky Sports he wants to fight the 21-year-old "sooner" rather than later. Dubois, fresh off a second-round stoppage of Fabio Wardley, believes both fighters must learn from the protracted rivalry between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, who will finally meet in December after years of missed opportunities.
"I want to fight him sooner," Dubois said. "It was a great fight between him and Hrgovic, so there's no shame in that really. Hrgovic just showed him that there's always someone out there that's stronger willed than you." The 29-year-old two-time champion added that Itauma has the backing to return to world title contention: "Of course he can. He had the whole industry behind him. They won't let him give up I don't think."
Hrgovic: Itauma the Best I've Faced
Dubois' comments came just days after IBF champion Filip Hrgovic told Ariel Helwani that Itauma, despite suffering a nine-round stoppage loss to the Croatian in August, is "maybe the best who I fought." Hrgovic praised Itauma's speed, boxing IQ, timing and movement, though he noted the young heavyweight is not the biggest puncher he has encountered.
"The quickest guy, the best IQ, the best timing and speed," Hrgovic said. "But he's not the biggest puncher. I received harder punches from Dubois, from [David] Adeleye [and] from [Zhilei] Zhang." The endorsement from Hrgovic, who claimed the IBF title by stopping Itauma, underscores the unusual circumstances of Itauma's first professional defeat: he showcased elite-level skills but was ultimately undone by Hrgovic's superior durability and will.
Context: A Crossroads for Itauma's Career
The 21-year-old Itauma, once touted as a future heavyweight king, now faces the first real crossroads of his professional career. His loss to Hrgovic exposed questions about his stamina and ability to handle experienced, determined opponents who can weather his early speed. Dubois, meanwhile, has rebuilt himself into a two-time world champion after setbacks against Joe Joyce and Oleksandr Usyk, and he sees parallels between his own journey and Itauma's current situation.
"Broken me down and rebuilt me again a few times," Dubois said of his career. "It's interesting. I'm just starting to unload properly now." The WBO champion believes his own experience makes him uniquely equipped to handle a fight with Itauma, and he is eager to test the young contender before the boxing industry potentially overprotects him.
Promotional Hurdles Ahead
Despite Dubois' enthusiasm, promotional politics could delay the fight for years. Both fighters are affiliated with Queensberry Promotions, which may be reluctant to match its young star against a powerful, experienced champion so soon after his first defeat. Boxing analysts suggest Queensberry could wait until Dubois, 29, has accumulated more wear and tear, allowing Itauma to develop his man-strength and gain more learning fights against durable gatekeepers. A more realistic timeline for the fight may be around 2031, when Itauma will be 26 and Dubois will have logged more miles in the ring.
Dubois, however, is wary of such delays. He pointed to Fury and Joshua, who spent nearly a decade as rivals before finally agreeing to fight this December, as a cautionary tale. "Let's see what happens," Dubois said. "I'm the one experienced in these situations now."
Perspective: A Defining Test for Itauma's Development
The renewed attention on Itauma comes at a pivotal moment. While Hrgovic's praise highlights the immense potential that made Itauma a hyped prospect, Dubois' callout presents a stark challenge: a fight against one of the division's hardest punchers would be a high-risk, high-reward test of Itauma's durability and composure. For Dubois, it represents a chance to secure a marquee British rivalry early, avoiding the frustration that has plagued Fury and Joshua. For Itauma, it is an opportunity to prove that his skills can overcome the physical and mental demands of elite heavyweight competition—or a risk that could derail his rebuild if taken too soon.
As the heavyweight division continues to evolve, the Dubois-Itauma saga will be one to watch. Whether Queensberry chooses to protect its investment or embrace the competitive spirit Dubois advocates could shape the next decade of British heavyweight boxing. For now, the boxing world is left to speculate: will this be a rivalry realized in its prime, or another case of waiting too long?
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