Dillian Whyte and Moses Itauma are set to face off in a heavyweight clash on August 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fight has got fans talking, with the young Itauma stepping up against the experienced Whyte.
Whyte, known as "The Bodysnatcher," has fought at the top level and is now rebuilding his career with lower-level wins. He's working with trainer Buddy McGirt for this bout. On the other side of the ring, 20-year-old Itauma boasts an impressive 12-0 record with 10 knockouts. He's finished his last three fights within the first two rounds.
Mark Tibbs, Whyte's former trainer, shared his thoughts on the matchup in an interview with Pro Boxing Fans. Tibbs sees Itauma as the favorite, calling him "a serious operator" who "can pick his punches well."
"To be fair, I'm thinking, I had 11 fights with DIllian. He got to world number one, so I know Dillian really, really well. I don't like that fight for him. I never thought he'd be a step up for someone. He won't like me saying that. He's done very well Dillian. He deserves a payday, and I hope he's getting that."
Despite his concerns, Tibbs acknowledged Whyte's experience could potentially upset the odds. He praised Whyte's heart, mindset, and character, qualities that have served him well throughout his career.
Whyte's resume includes a world title challenge and fights against former and future champions. His only losses have come against Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Alexander Povetkin, though he avenged the Povetkin defeat. Recently, Whyte proved his innocence after a failed drug test, which was attributed to a contaminated supplement.
Itauma, on the other hand, is seen as a rising star in the heavyweight division. He's earned praise from champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, who have hailed him as the future of the division.
The fight has caught the attention of bookmakers, with most making Itauma a heavy favorite. It's shaping up to be one of the most intriguing matchups in the heavyweight division.
As the fight date approaches, all eyes will be on Saudi Arabia to see if the young Itauma can live up to the hype or if the experienced Whyte can pull off an upset.
