Moses Itauma Stuns Dillian Whyte With Devastating First-round Knockout

Moses Itauma blew distant Dillian Whyte pinch a devastating first-round knockout successful their all-British heavyweight conflict successful Riyadh. The 20-year-old extended his cleanable grounds done 13 master fights arsenic he sent seasoned Whyte sprawling to nan canvas wrong 2 minutes.

The 37-year-old Whyte, a erstwhile WBC interim heavyweight champion, was not fixed immoderate clip to settee arsenic Itauma – who had been made to hold successful nan ringing by a delayed walk-in from his British rival – instantly went connected nan beforehand foot.

The Chatham southpaw tested Whyte pinch a flurry of early jabs earlier much precision changeable combinations sent him backmost connected to nan ropes. Another powerful correct hook sent Whyte crashing to nan level and, though he stumbled backmost connected to his feet, nan referee stepped successful to activity disconnected nan title pinch conscionable complete a infinitesimal near of nan first round.

Dillian Whyte reacts aft being knocked down. Photograph: Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters

On nan backmost of different hugely awesome display, nan calls will proceed to turn for Itauma, calved successful Slovakia, to beryllium handed a world title changeable successful 2026, though he played down nan chances of facing Oleksandr Usyk, nan undisputed heavyweight champion.

“That’s what I’ve been drilling for 12, 13 weeks,” Itauma said connected BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. “I person trained difficult for this, I didn’t want it to beryllium complete successful nan first round.

“I put connected a capacity for you guys, truthful it’s now who’s next? I don’t want to telephone retired Usyk because I don’t judge I merit nan opportunity – but guys that do merit nan opportunity, I want to conflict those lot. So possibly Agit Kabayel, possibly Joseph Parker. Maybe them type of names.

“As of correct now, I americium going to remainder and past possibly beryllium backmost successful nan gym.”