Heavyweight veteran Dillian Whyte is preparing for what could be one of the most important fights of his career, yet his calm demeanor and dismissive attitude toward his opponent are striking. In an exclusive interview with talkSPORT ahead of his showdown in Saudi Arabia against undefeated prospect Moses Itauma, "The Body Snatcher" stated that he sees nothing special in the young talent and believes the opponent's team views him merely as a stepping stone for their rising star.
A Make-or-Break Battle
More than just a victory is at stake in this bout. The winner will earn the status of mandatory challenger for the WBO world title. Given the current situation surrounding Oleksandr Usyk, this belt could soon become vacant, opening a direct path to a championship fight. However, Whyte himself doesn't seem to be fixated on this.
"To be honest, I didn't even know about all these details. I just accepted the fight and focused on training. I was just getting ready for the fight," the boxer noted calmly.
"What Did I See in His Eyes? Nothing."
Whyte's assessment of his 20-year-old opponent, Moses Itauma, whom many experts are calling a future superstar of the division, caused the biggest stir. When asked what he saw during their face-off, Dillian answered without hesitation.
"In their eyes, I'm just cannon fodder. I'm nothing to them... I don't try to analyze body language. People can be misleading, pretending to be nervous or, conversely, confident. That's why I don't pay attention to it," Whyte declared.
He also refused to evaluate Itauma's talent level, sarcastically redirecting the question to the journalists: "You guys are the experts. You're the ones saying how good he is. According to you and other professionals, this is going to be a walk in the park for him. I'm nothing."
A Warrior's Path: From Selling Tickets to World Arenas
Whyte reflected on his own arduous journey in professional boxing, highlighting the stark contrast with Itauma's rapid career ascent.
"That's the world of boxing. When I turned pro in 2011, he was six years old. When I fought AJ in 2015, he was ten," Dillian pointed out. "I got to the top because I took risks and beat world-level guys when I was a nobody. I had no amateur career, no TV backing, no strategic plan. I was selling tickets myself two hours before a fight just to make money."
For Dillian Whyte, this fight is another in a long line of must-win situations. His entire career has been this way, and he feels completely comfortable in this role. Will the seasoned veteran be able to stop the young talent, or will we witness the birth of a new star? We will get the answer this Saturday.
