Moses Itauma announced himself on the big stage with a devastating first-round knockout of veteran Dillian Whyte in a heavyweight clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The 20-year-old Nigerian-British rising star needed less than two minutes to extend his unbeaten record to 13-0 (11 KOs), sending Whyte crashing to the canvas with blistering speed and power.
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Whyte, a 37-year-old former WBC interim heavyweight champion, had hoped to test the young prospect by dragging the fight into the later rounds.
Instead, he was overwhelmed almost immediately as Itauma pressed forward from the opening bell, wobbling his rival before finishing him with a clinical right hand.
Although Whyte beat the count, referee intervention was swift as the veteran staggered, leaving no room for doubt.
“This was exactly what we worked on,” Itauma said afterwards. “I saw what Ben [Davison] told me he would do, and after the first minute, I couldn’t miss. I just executed the game plan.”
Despite Whyte being past his prime, he was seen as Itauma’s toughest test to date. The youngster showed he is already operating at a higher level, thanking his opponent for the opportunity before boldly calling for bigger fights.
“What’s next? I’ll fight anyone,” he declared. “If it’s Usyk, Parker, Kabayel – throw me in there with them.”
With Filip Hrgovic and Joseph Parker also looming as potential opponents, Itauma’s rapid rise looks set to continue, as he edges closer to the elite of the heavyweight division.
