For nearly a decade, Fury and Joshua stood as the twin pillars of British heavyweight boxing, capturing the imagination of the global sports public. Yet, despite prolonged anticipation and public demand, the domestic mega-fight continuously eluded fans and pundits alike, with the two fighters missing the absolute peak of their physical powers before finally securing a long-awaited bout. It is a historical oversight in modern British boxing promotion that Dubois is acutely eager to avoid repeating with the next generation.
As the heavyweight landscape shifts, a massive generational rivalry is bubbling beneath the surface, one that could soon take center stage. At just 29 years old, Dubois has already cemented himself as a two-time world champion, possessing a wealth of elite-level experience that belies his relative youth. Meanwhile, Moses Itauma, at only 21 years of age, has already catapulted himself into world title contention, establishing his status as one of the most frighteningly fast-developing prospects the sport has seen in years.
Itauma’s rapid ascent recently hit a temporary roadblock during a bruising, high-stakes battle against Filip Hrgovic. However, Dubois is entirely convinced that the young contender possesses the backing, the talent, and the resilience to bounce back and return to the pinnacle of the division. Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports, Dubois offered an assessment of his younger compatriot’s future prospects in the sport.
"Of course he can. He had the whole industry behind him. They won’t let him give up, I don’t think," Dubois remarked, reflecting on the infrastructure supporting Itauma’s career. Addressing the setback against Hrgovic, Dubois noted that competitive elite boxing often delivers harsh lessons. "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."
That resilience, forged in the fires of competitive defeat, is precisely what makes a future domestic collision between Dubois and Itauma a mouthwatering prospect for boxing enthusiasts. When asked if he views the younger fighter as an inevitable future opponent, the WBO champion adopted a pragmatic yet confident stance. "Let’s see what happens," Dubois said. "I’m the one experienced in these situations now. So let’s see."
It is precisely this forward-looking mindset that brings Dubois back to the lessons of the past. The lingering regret surrounding the delayed Fury-Joshua saga serves as a direct blueprint for how elite modern champions should navigate their careers. Rather than letting marquee matchups marinate until the public appetite wanes or the fighters are past their absolute prime, Dubois wants to strike while the iron is hot.
"I want to fight him sooner," Dubois stated, expanding his ambition beyond just one potential opponent. "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."
That terrifying promise is far from empty rhetoric. Dubois recently reminded the entire division of his absolute destructive capability when he successfully defended his WBO heavyweight title with a devastating, explosive two-round demolition of Fabio Wardley in their high-octane rematch. The sheer force on display during that performance reinforced a growing consensus within the boxing community that Dubois currently packs the heaviest punch in the division.
When asked if he believes he is the hardest puncher in world boxing today, Dubois did not hesitate. "I am. I’ve shown myself over the years as well," he affirmed. Yet, despite already holding world championship gold and dismantling top contenders with alarming speed, Dubois insists that he has barely scratched the surface of his true potential inside the squared circle.
"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 said, offering a smile that carried a distinct blend of calm assurance and menacing intent.
The path to this level of unshakeable confidence was far from straightforward. Dubois’ journey to the upper echelons of heavyweight boxing has been defined by adversity, trial, and painful lessons learned on the global stage. Early-career setbacks—including a stoppage loss to the undefeated Joe Joyce, followed by two bruising, complex encounters with the tactical genius of Oleksandr Usyk—once prompted questions about his ceiling. Instead of derailing his career, however, those defeats served as the crucible in which his current persona was forged. Today, those experiences have molded him into arguably the most dangerous and battle-tested heavyweight operating in the sport.
Reflecting on the turbulent trajectory of his professional journey, Dubois acknowledges that the bitter taste of defeat was a necessary prerequisite for his current dominance. "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," he explained.
"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."
That hardened resolve was unmistakably visible during his systematic breakdown of Wardley, where his unrelenting pressure and concussive power overwhelmed the challenger in a matter of minutes. When pressed to categorize the relentless mindset that drives him to march through fire and break his opponents down, Dubois resisted conventional sporting clichés, offering instead a more visceral description of his competitive psyche.
"I’d say call it determination, just call it determination, will to win and a little bit crazy," he said.
A deep, relaxed laugh followed the admission, underscoring a fighter who has finally made peace with the chaotic nature of his trade and is entirely comfortable standing at the summit of the heavyweight division.
