Moses Itauma is officially set to face Dillian Whyte in a significant heavyweight clash scheduled for August 16.
The 20-year-old rising prospect has recently found it challenging to secure opponents offering a gradual step-up in competition, particularly after quickly dispatching his last two rivals in a combined total of just three rounds.
Veteran Dillian Whyte, 37, known as the `Body Snatcher`, has accepted the challenge, agreeing to face one of the most talked-about young talents in the boxing world in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the specified date.
This bout comes just three months after Itauma, who hails from Kent, secured a dominant second-round victory over Mike Balogun on May 24. Following that fight, the young boxer expressed his desire for more challenging fights, stating, “I don`t have to worry about doing rounds, but my team wants to see me in a 10-rounder. And then I want in with the big dogs.”
Dillian Whyte had a preliminary fight scheduled in Ipswich but withdrew from it immediately upon receiving the lucrative offer for the Itauma fight.
Whyte, a former challenger for the WBC heavyweight championship, has not competed in England since November 2022.
A highly anticipated rematch against Anthony Joshua, set for August 2023, was ultimately cancelled after Whyte tested positive for banned substances.
Since that cancellation, Whyte`s fights have taken place in Gibraltar and Ireland, resulting in victories that were generally considered less impactful.
Coincidentally, Itauma was also previously slated to appear on the undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois event planned for Wembley on July 19.
However, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, a prominent figure driving major boxing events in Saudi Arabia, is known for his ambition to create the most exciting and significant matchups he envisions.
Often, previously arranged plans and fight schedules are adjusted or superseded when Alalshikh decides to fund and stage a major high-profile fight.
