Based on his prior observations, David Haye suggests Dillian Whyte holds the potential to triumph over Moses Itauma this coming Saturday, primarily due to his wealth of experience. However, he expresses some doubt regarding whether the 37-year-old Whyte still possesses the necessary capabilities at his current stage to overcome the 20-year-old Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs), who is under the promotional banner of Queensberry.
Whyte’s Seniority and Current Performance
The encounter between Itauma and Whyte is slated to be the main event this Saturday, August 16th, and will be broadcast on DAZN PPV from the ANB Arena in Riyadh. Moses is being strategically advanced to the forefront by his promoters through carefully chosen opponents. They anticipate that he will be adequately prepared to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for the title of undisputed heavyweight champion, contingent upon his victory over Whyte (31-3, 21 KOs) and an impressive performance.
“Undoubtedly, provided Dillian Whyte has committed himself diligently to training and approached it with utmost seriousness, which appears to be the case,” David Haye remarked to BoxNation when queried about Dillian Whyte’s potential to defeat Moses Itauma. “He certainly doesn’t want to be defeated by a knockout at the hands of a 21-year-old novice [correction: 20-year-old]. That outcome is not part of his envisioned scenario. He does not believe it will happen.”
“He has extensive experience, having participated in numerous high-stakes bouts and training sessions with top-tier fighters,” Haye commented on Whyte. “He has competed against the very best and consistently demonstrated commendable performance. His vast experience provides him with the means to secure victory in this contest.”
Whyte is indeed equipped with the necessary skills, but he will need to withstand Itauma’s powerful punches. If the situation becomes unfavorable for him, will Dillian be willing to persevere and extend the fight into the later rounds? If Whyte believes that securing a win will guarantee him continued lucrative opportunities from Turki Alalshikh, he may be inclined to endure discomfort in order to prolong the match, assess Itauma’s resilience, and potentially expose him as an overhyped prospect orchestrated by his management to exploit the British audience.
“Does he still have that spark? I haven’t observed it in his most recent couple of matches [against Ebenezer Tetteh and Christian Hammer],” Haye commented regarding Whyte. “His physical condition appeared different in those two bouts, and when judgments are based on an individual’s least impressive showings, miscalculations can occur.”
The Drive of a Wealthy Competitor
Whyte displayed strong form against Christian Hammer but struggled notably against Tetteh and Jermaine Franklin. One contributing factor is his accumulated wealth. Dillian is now a millionaire, which has diminished the intense desire he once possessed when fighting to make ends meet earlier in his career, prior to achieving financial security.
“If this matchup had been proposed five or six years earlier, it likely wouldn’t have materialized, but it is happening now. Dillian’s thought process likely involves, ‘Everyone is doubting my chances. I’m receiving an extraordinary sum of money,” Haye stated. “‘I’m participating in Riyadh Season, competing against a fighter [Itauma] with only 12 professional fights’ and whose opposition has been of a significantly lower caliber compared to what Dillian has faced. Therefore, he will be venturing into uncharted territory, encountering scenarios he has yet to experience under the spotlight.”
Indeed, this fight would likely not have been arranged five or six years prior. If Whyte were still performing at the level he exhibited against Lucas Browne in 2018, Queensberry would not permit Itauma to face him under any circumstances. They are not matching Itauma against formidable opponents like Agit Kabayel, Lenier Pero, Danier Pero, Richard Torrez Jr, Joseph Parker, Daniel Dubois, or even Zhilei Zhang, as such a contest could expose his vulnerabilities and jeopardize the financial benefits associated with his involvement with Turki Alalshikh, akin to certain other British fighters.
“He may have demonstrated his capabilities in training, but sparring sessions and official competitions using smaller gloves can lead to unforeseen mistakes that can change the course of the fight. He has not yet encountered such a situation, and his ability to withstand punches remains untested, as his skill has prevented opponents from seriously challenging his resilience,” Haye remarked regarding Moses Itauma.
The reality is that Itauma has not only avoided facing formidable adversaries throughout his professional career, but his amateur experience also reflects this trend. Whether intentional or not, Itauma’s matchups have been selectively chosen from the beginning. The closest he came to facing tough competition was against Stylianos Roulias, a large teenager from Greece, in 2022.
He was under duress throughout the fight and seemed uneasy, moving erratically around the ring. Roulias (10-8) was far from an elite fighter, yet he applied pressure on Itauma, absorbed his punches, and pursued him aggressively. Itauma appeared uncomfortable during that match.
