Rising heavyweight star Moses Itauma underlined his status as Britain’s next big boxing sensation with a stunning first-round knockout of veteran Dillian Whyte at the ANB Arena in Riyadh on Saturday night.
The 20-year-old British-Nigerian southpaw, headlining a professional card for the first time, needed just one minute and 59 seconds to dismantle the 37-year-old former WBC interim champion. A perfectly-timed right hook to the temple sent Whyte crashing to the canvas, and although he bravely beat the count, referee Mikael Hook waved off the contest moments later.
The emphatic victory stretched Itauma’s flawless professional record to 13 wins, including 11 knockouts, and marked his most high-profile triumph to date. With eight of his stoppages coming in the opening round, he continues to showcase frightening power and composure well beyond his years.
From the opening bell, Itauma dictated the tempo with sharp feints and precise footwork before unleashing his heavy artillery. Whyte, despite arriving in peak condition and at his lightest weight in a decade, was quickly overwhelmed and pinned against the ropes before Itauma landed the decisive blow.
Promoter Frank Warren hailed the youngster’s maturity and dominance. “His temperament, control, and composure were incredible. He fights better than some men at their peak, and he’s only 20. He just did a job on somebody who’s been at the top level,” Warren told BBC Radio 5 Live.
The Slovakia-born fighter, who has gone beyond the second round only twice in his career, now finds himself on the cusp of a world title opportunity. Heavyweight rivals Joseph Parker, Derek Chisora, and Lawrence Okolie watched from ringside as Itauma delivered a performance that firmly positioned him as the division’s future.
