Daniel Dubois has warned Moses Itauma that the pair must not repeat the mistake made by Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua – waiting too long to settle their rivalry at the peak of their powers. Speaking to Sky Sports, the WBO heavyweight champion made clear his preference for an early showdown with the young challenger.
Fury and Joshua have been positioned as British heavyweight rivals for nearly a decade, yet they squandered opportunities to meet when both were at their absolute best. That will finally change in December, when the pair are scheduled to fight on December 11, 2026, at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, with the bout set to stream on Netflix. Dubois sees that delayed clash as a cautionary tale for the next generation of British heavyweight boxing.
A significant rivalry could emerge between Dubois and Itauma, who represent the future of the division in Britain. Dubois, a two-time world champion, remains only 29 years old, while Itauma, at just 21, has already challenged for a world title. The contrast in their experience levels – and their proximity in age – makes an eventual meeting between them a natural draw for the sport.
Itauma's recent setback came against Filip Hrgovic in August. According to Sky Sports, Hrgovic stopped Itauma in the ninth round after Itauma had outboxed him for eight rounds; it was Itauma's first professional defeat. That loss saw Hrgovic claim the IBF heavyweight championship, though Hrgovic's IBF title-unification hopes against Dubois are on hold while a mandatory defence against Frank Sanchez is explored for early 2027.
Despite that defeat, Dubois believes Itauma will 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,Dubois told Sky Sports.
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. More determination and he's got kids to feed.
Dubois can envision Itauma becoming a future opponent for him.
Let's see what happens,the WBO champion said.
I'm the one experienced in these situations now. So let's see.
Yet the lesson from Fury and Joshua weighs on his mind. Rather than allow years to pass before they meet, Dubois wants action sooner.
I want to fight him [Itauma] sooner,Dubois said.
Moses, anyone that can give me a challenge. All the toughest fighters out there I want to face.
Let's see. I'll break them down now. I feel like I'm at that stage now. I know how I'll have to break them all down, whoever I get in the ring with next, I'll smash them up.
Dubois's devastating form
Dubois demonstrated his full destructive power when he defended his WBO title against Fabio Wardley in their rematch, stopping him in just two rounds. He remains convinced he possesses the hardest punch in world heavyweight boxing.
I am. I've shown myself over the years as well,he said. Yet he insists there is considerably more to come.
I don't think I've even touched the surface yet really. I'm just starting to unload properly now. It's going to be a good few next fights,he smiled with an innocent menace.
The setbacks that marked his earlier career – his stoppage loss to Joe Joyce, and two defeats at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk – have, in Dubois's view, forged him into the fighter he is today. He regards himself as arguably the most dangerous heavyweight in the world at present.
Who's had a career like mine? Coming back from losses and then banging out good fighters. So I've been showing myself that I've got that power for a long time,Dubois said.
Broken me down and rebuilt me again a few times. It's interesting.
Of course, from the first fight with Joe Joyce, a few, Usyk and all those events I feel like they make you stronger.
His fearsome confidence was evident as he relentlessly bombarded Wardley into submission. Yet Dubois characterised his approach differently.
I'd say call it determination, just call it determination, will to win and a little bit crazy,he said, laughing deeply.
So it's good.
