Moses Itauma Faces Dillian Whyte in Career-Defining Showdown in Riyadh

Rising British-Nigerian heavyweight Moses Itauma takes the biggest step of his young career as he faces seasoned veteran Dillian Whyte today (Saturday) at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A win for the undefeated 20-year-old could place him firmly in contention for a future world title shot.

Itauma, a powerful southpaw with a professional record of 12-0, including 10 knockouts, is making his first appearance as the headliner of a pro card. His opponent, the 37-year-old Whyte, brings experience at the highest level, having shared the ring with heavyweight greats like Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Joseph Parker.

“Everyone needs a breakthrough fight. AJ had it with Charles Martin, Tyson Fury had it with Deontay Wilder, so I guess this is my breakthrough fight,” Itauma told BBC Sport.

The London-born boxer made headlines early in his career by claiming he wanted to break Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight world champion. While he now calls that ambition “naive,” his rapid rise has still surpassed the pace set by fellow British heavyweights: Daniel Dubois was 21, Fury was 22, and Joshua was 25 when they reached 12 professional wins.

Veteran coach Dave Coldwell, known for guiding Tony Bellew to a world title, believes Itauma’s talent is the real deal.

“I don’t get too excited about prospects because over the years we’ve seen so many prospects we say will be the new phase of boxing or the next superstar,” Coldwell told BBC Sport.

“I’m actually excited about him. I think that the hype is justified on his terms.”

Itauma exploded onto the scene in 2023 with a 23-second knockout debut and has only gone beyond the second round twice, amassing just 25 rounds across 12 bouts. His explosive power and composure have made him one of the most talked-about prospects in boxing.

While the ultimate goal remains a world title, Itauma is pragmatic about the path ahead.

“Usyk would be good, but I think Joseph Parker or Agit Kabayel probably deserve it,” he said.

“But who deserves anything? You get what you negotiate, not what you deserve.”

A victory over Whyte would be a defining moment in Itauma’s career—potentially setting up high-stakes clashes with names like Parker, the current WBO interim champion, or even a future bout with undisputed heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.