Moses Itauma Shows His Power by Knocking Out Dillian Whyte in the First Round
Moses Itauma, considered a future heavyweight boxing star, added a resounding victory to his undefeated record by defeating Dillian Whyte in the first round on Saturday.
The 20-year-old English boxer achieved his eighth knockout victory in the first round, after finishing a staggering Whyte with a right hook in just 119 seconds of a non-title heavyweight fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
What’s next? I will fight anyone they put in front of me. Being honest, Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel deserve a shot at the title, but include me with any of them. I am ranked number 1 by the WBO and Parker is also there, so maybe that can happen. I’m only 20 years old, so I have 10 or 15 years left. If I get the opportunity [to fight for a world title] I will 100 percent be a world champion.
Moses Itauma
Whyte, who was stopped in the sixth round by Tyson Fury for the WBC world title in April 2022, was Itauma’s most experienced opponent to date, but Itauma dispatched him with ease.This was the most important test for Itauma on his way to becoming the next English heavyweight world champion, following in the footsteps of Anthony Joshua, Fury and Daniel Dubois.
Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs), at 20 years old, is ahead of the progress of those three at the same age, but a title opportunity is still far away, as Oleksandr Usyk holds the four world championship belts and his next two opponents are expected to be Joseph Parker and possibly Fury.
Whyte (31-4, 21 KOs), 37, who moved to Brixton in London from Jamaica in his childhood, has lost a bit of momentum in recent years, but remains a dangerous puncher who has victories over Parker (2018) and Alexander Povetkin (2020).
Itauma, a six-foot-four-inch southpaw, born in Slovakia but who moved to Kent in England as a child, demonstrated fast hands, smooth footwork and devastating power in sweeping Whyte.
Whyte made Itauma wait in the ring before making his entrance, but Itauma wasted no time in getting his jab working in the first round.
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In a matter of seconds, Itauma began to connect power punches, and after hurting Whyte with a left hook to the temple, followed up with a barrage of punches to the head and body. Whyte was unsteady and the end seemed inevitable. It came quickly, before the end of the first round, when Itauma sent Whyte falling sideways against the ropes with a right hook to the temple.
It was another quick demonstration by Itauma, possibly the most exciting heavyweight right now, who is approaching a world title opportunity.
