HEAVYWEIGHT hope Moses Itauma further enhanced his rapidly growing credentials with a one-round blast out of Dillian Whyte in Riyadh this evening. Whyte kept the young prospect waiting around for over six minutes with some ringwalk mind games. Itauma grabbed the time back by blasting him away in under two minutes.
Dropping to 31-4 (21 KOs), Whyte’s fruitful career is over at anything resembling the top level. Itauma’s is just beginning. Sizing the Brixton resident up with early jabs, a glancing shot on the top of the head had Whyte reeling.
Patient and calculating, Moses stepped off as Dillian wobbled around the ring, slashing in hooks, ending with a right hook, sending Whyte to the canvas. This slimline version of the ‘Bodysnatcher’ tried to clamber to his feet, but referee Mikael Hook had seen enough, waving it off at 1-59 of the first round, ambitiously touted for 10.
“It takes two to tango, so thanks very much to Dillian Whyte for giving me this opportunity to showcase my skills,” said Itauma, 13-0 (11 KOs).
While Itauma is passing every part of the eye test, Whyte was nothing more than double vision. It’s hard to know how the explosive young prospect would fare in a tough 12-rounder with a Joseph Parker or Agit Kabayel, two names he admitted were both ahead of him in the pecking order. What’s next?
“I’ll fight anyone they put in front of me,” he said, as the crowd chanted Usyk, which is surely unrealistic.
“Joseph Parker and Kabayel do deserve the opportunity, but chuck me in with them lot,” he added.
Promoter Frank Warren said: “Moses is the most unbelievable finisher. When you’re in trouble, you’re in trouble. Probably the best, if not the best, at this stage of his career I’ve been involved with.”
