Daniel Dubois backs Moses Itauma to rebuild and wants to fight him sooner

Daniel Dubois says there is no shame in Moses Itauma's ninth-round stoppage by Hrgovic, and wants the fight between them to happen while it is at its most competitive.

Daniel Dubois believes Moses Itauma can recover from his ninth-round stoppage by Hrgovic. He also wants to face Itauma sooner rather than later, so that an already appealing contest is at its most competitive.

Before the loss to Hrgovic, Itauma was widely regarded as the next dominant force in the heavyweight division. Asked whether Itauma could rebuild, Dubois said he could, and pointed to the backing around him: “He had the whole industry behind him. They won't let him give up I don't think.” Dubois called it a great fight and said there was no shame in the result. In his view, Hrgovic had shown Itauma that there is always someone with a stronger will and more determination, and a man with children to feed.

On a possible meeting with Itauma, Dubois said: “I want to fight him [Itauma] sooner.” He added that he wanted to face all of the toughest fighters and believes he now knows how to break down whoever he meets next.

Dubois has been through a similar setback. In 2020 he was stopped by Joe Joyce, taking the full count on one knee to avoid further punishment, and his future was questioned. He names that defeat and Usyk among the experiences he says made him stronger. Since then he has beaten Anthony Joshua and Hrgovic, and he comes into this off consecutive stoppage wins over Fabio Wardley.

Dubois told Sky Sports: “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.”

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