Daniel Dubois tips Moses Itauma to bounce back after suffering heartbreaking first-ever defeat… just like he did

DANIEL DUBOIS has backed Moses Itauma to pick himself up and dust himself down after suffering his first-ever loss – just like he did. Dubois was just 23 when he lost his undefeated record to Joe Joyce in 2020 – forced to take a knee and be counted out after his left eye was shattered. Daniel Dubois has backed Moses Itauma to bounce back after defeat to Filip Hrgovic Credit: Sunsport Hrgovic stopped Itauma in round nine Credit: Getty And he came back from a 2023 defeat to Oleksandr Usyk to win the IBF title and knock out Anthony Joshua. Itauma was expected to beat Hrgovic – whose only loss came to Dubois in 2024 – and become Britain’s youngest heavyweight world champion. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! But it was experience that won the day as Hrgovic, 34, outlasted Itauma, 21, to pull off a shock stoppage in round nine. Dubois, 28, was ringside at London’s O2 Arena to announce his October 17 rematch with Fabio Wardley, 31, and gave Itauma some words of wisdom. He told SunSport: “It was exciting while it lasted. But experience came through. Let’s see what he’s up to now. If he comes back from this. “This is a real learning curve against an Olympian-standard fighter. Of course it is not the end for Moses. It depends on the mindset.” Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren has built Dubois back from three defeats – to the point he now reigns as WBO champ after beating Wardley in May. David Haye was another British star to have overcome an early loss when he was stopped in five rounds against Carl Thompson in 2004. Most read in Sport BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It has already been a blockbuster year inside the ring, and it is not going to stop anytime soon! All eyes are focused on when Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will get in the ring, with the pair due to finally settle their decade-long rivalry. Katie Taylor calls time on her illustrious career this weekend at Croke Park as she faces Flora Pili, with the chance to become a three-time undisputed champion. Conor Benn fights for his first world title one week later against Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas – it is The Destroyer’s second bout for Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. October’s action doesn’t stop either, with Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois facing off in the rematch of their thrilling fight in May, while Canelo Alvarez returns against Christian Mbili on Halloween. Here’s all the big fights coming up… September Sat 5 – Katie Taylor vs Flora Pili – DAZN Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN Sep 12 – Jai Opetaia vs Noel Mikaelian Sat 19 – Isaac Cruz vs Nestor Bravo – DAZN October Sat 3 – Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace – DAZN Sat 17 – Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 – DAZN Sat 31 – Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbili – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. Itauma totally dominated the fight And Warren, 74, said: “Moses will come back. He’s a young man and I’m sure he’ll come back and he’ll learn from it. “Daniel Dubois, look where he is now. He’s champion. You look at lots of fighters over the years who’ve lost and come back. “David Haye’s a prime example. I believe he’ll come back. You’ve seen he’s got tremendous skills and talent and he’s got to learn from it. “It’s about learning. Boxing, especially for young fighters, is about learning. It’s like learning the craft, the tricks of the trade. “When he was in trouble, he didn’t have the thing to walk on, close the gap or anything. “He was still standing back and letting shots go rather than trying to narrow the gap and nullify him. He just didn’t do that. “He was in control and he stopped using his jab. That was the problem. But anyway, it is what it is. “We can’t change it. In the history books, what it is, is what it is. And he’s got to learn from it and come back. “And in the meantime, Filip is the champion and that’s life, that’s boxing. That’s why it’s so exciting.” Itauma was released from hospital following the exhausting defeat and spoke out to thank his fans after losing his undefeated record. Comment now