As fans may recall, promoter Frank Warren said earlier this week that veteran British heavyweight Dillian Whyte would not be fighting on the Fabio Wardley-Justis Huni card (that is now underway in Ipswich, UK) as planned, because Whyte had received an offer for a “big fight” that had to take precedent. No point taking a risk by fighting TBA on the Wardley-Huni card, Warren said, and take a chance blowing the big fight.
Instantly there was speculation about who this “big fight” for Whyte would be against. A few names popped up: Derek Chisora, Lawrence Okolie, and Joseph Parker.
However, as has been reported by Mike Coppinger of The Ring, the fight Whyte has apparently landed is one with unbeaten, red-hot heavyweight star-in-the-making Moses Itauma. Now, it is fair to say that this is a fight nobody saw coming.
Whyte vs. Itauma? The shock that has everyone talking
“Moses Itauma will look to reach contender status as he’s in the process of finalizing a deal to meet Dillian Whyte on Aug. 16 in Riyadh, sources told @ringmagazine. Itauma, the Ring’s Prospect of the Year, headlines a Riyadh Season event surrounding the Esports World Cup,” Coppinger’s message reads on X.
So, Itauma, still only 20 years old and currently 12-0(10) will take a step up in class here, even if 37 year old Whyte, 31-3, has seen better days. This is certainly an interesting fight, and Itauma, if he can do a job on Whyte and take him out fast, will make yet another statement. But is Itauma really ready for headline status just yet?
A career reset for Whyte—or a career-maker for Itauma?
In any case, this is indeed a big fight for Whyte, one he will look to win so as to reinvigorate his career in a big, big way. Whyte can still bang, but will he be able to catch the fast and accurate Itauma with anything of real significance?
Itauma was last seen stopping a game Mike Balogun in two rounds a couple of weeks ago, while Whyte has not fought since labouring to a 7th round stoppage win over Ebenezer Tetteh in December.