Dillian Whyte Confident Of Pulling Off Surprise Against Moses Itauma

Veteran Dillian Whyte says he is tin of pulling disconnected a astonishment against his chap Briton Moses Itauma, nan agleam young prima of heavyweight boxing being lined up to return connected Oleksandr Usyk.

Whyte and Itauma are owed to conflict successful Riyadh connected 16 August. Itauma, aged 20, small much than half nan property of nan 37-year-old Whyte, has racked up a flawless 12-0 grounds successful his master profession that has spanned conscionable complete 2 years.

Turki Alalshikh, nan president of nan General Entertainment Authority, which owns Riyadh Season, has said he would for illustration to make Itauma look Usyk, nan undisputed world heavyweight champion, next. Many pundits and ex-professionals opportunity Itauma will beryllium nan adjacent man to norm complete nan heavyweight division, and spot nan Whyte conflict arsenic a stepping stone.

Whyte admitted location was a batch of excitement astir Itauma, but added: “We’ve seen it clip and clip again wherever these guys are built up, they’re knocking everybody out, they’re prospects and stuff. We person to spot what happens.

“Sometimes these guys get rushed, aliases sometimes they get blown retired of proportionality and past things spell wrong. It’s heavyweight boxing. Heavyweight boxing … it’s unpredictable. I’ve ever taken nan astir vulnerable conflict and nan hardest conflict location is.”

Whyte denied he was fazed by nan speculation astir nan fight. “I don’t consciousness disrespected. In life, everybody’s sewage an opinion. Everybody’s going to opportunity something. He’s been successful nan limelight, he’s nan caller man, he’s shining, he’s knocking everyone retired … there’s excitement astir him.

“People’s memories are short successful boxing. You retrieve a fewer years agone erstwhile David Haye fought Carl Thompson, Carl Thompson was conscionable a threat man that was successful nan wilderness. No 1 cared astir Carl Thompson. David Haye was blowing everyone away, smashing everyone’s heads in. And then, look, Carl Thompson showed up and sewage nan occupation done.”

Moses Itauma has a flawless 12-0 grounds and is being lined up to return connected Oleksandr Usyk. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters

Whyte was knocked retired by Tyson Fury astatine Wembley successful April 2022 aft being nan WBC number 1 contender for much than 4 years. A rematch pinch Anthony Joshua was cancelled successful August 2023 aft an adverse uncovering successful 1 of Whyte’s narcotics tests.

After 15 months retired of nan ringing he won a contentious determination triumph complete Jermaine Franklin successful March 2024. He fought a further 2 times successful 2024 against Christian Hammer and Ebenezer Tetteh, respectively, 2 fights successful which Whyte did not impress, showing levels that were acold disconnected nan heights and accomplishment level he had shown successful victories specified arsenic nan 1 against existent WBO mandatory challenger, Joseph Parker.

A triumph for Whyte would revive his profession and could perchance lead to a rematch pinch Anthony Joshua aliases Derek Chisora; nan opportunities are endless. Otherwise status whitethorn loom.

Whyte was successful a reflective temper erstwhile he met reporters, discussing his reliable puerility successful Brixton, southbound London. “Sometimes I had nary guardians aliases nary 1 to return attraction of me. So I was retired successful nan thoroughfare surviving, stealing and robbing nutrient and worldly to get by, eating from trash cans, doing worldly for illustration that. You know, moving arsenic a kid, I retrieve trading Fanta bottles, nan solid bottles to make money, trading fruits, farming, doing stuff. So, I’ve been suffering.

“All I’ve done successful my life is conflict and struggle, conflict and struggle, conflict and struggle, conflict and struggle, conflict and struggle. So it’s what I cognize really to do. I’ve had to study to beryllium a amended quality being.”

He added: “But fighting … and being amongst animals, are nan 2 things that I cognize to do best.”