Shane McGuigan believes Moses Itauma would be a difficult fight for Daniel Dubois, despite Dubois’ recent WBO heavyweight title win over Fabio Wardley.
Dubois became a two-time world champion in Manchester, climbing off the canvas twice before stopping Wardley in the 11th round. The victory answered major questions about his resilience and showed the strength of his jab across long spells.
With Dubois now holding the WBO belt, Itauma could come into play as a leading contender. The 21-year-old is being pushed toward the top of the division after stopping Jermaine Franklin in the fifth round in March.
McGuigan previously trained Dubois and watched him spar Itauma when the younger heavyweight was still only around 17 or 18. Based on what he saw then, and how both fighters have developed, McGuigan does not see it as a good matchup for Dubois.
“I don’t think it’s a great fight for Daniel,” McGuigan said. “Daniel’s a guy that has to know he can get to you.”
McGuigan compared the potential Itauma fight to Dubois’ struggles against Oleksandr Usyk, saying Dubois may not fully believe he can reach another fast, dynamic southpaw. “He’ll struggle with [Itauma] a lot,” McGuigan said, while adding that the fight could change if Dubois gets past the first five or six rounds.
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