Novice Itauma’s power can destroy vet Whyte

Punching sensation Moses Itauma started his boxing career so impressively that at one point as a teenager he was considering going for Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight champ ever. 

That didn’t happen but Itauma has made spectacular progress since and will chase the biggest scalp of his career so far against Dillian ‘Bodysnatcher’ Whyte next week in Riyadh.

The 20-year-old Brit has torn through his first 12 opponents with a degree of precocious ferocity that hasn’t been seen since a teenage Tyson flattened his first 16 foes in his freshman year 40 years ago.

Whyte, a seasoned veteran and former world title challenger with wins over the likes of Alexander Povetkin, Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora, will act as an effective yardstick to see just how good Itauma really is.

So strong is the belief in his ability that southpaw Itauma is a heavy favourite over the 37-year-old Jamaica-born Londoner despite having never boxed anyone near his level.

Itauma is ranked No1 by the WBO and would be next in line to fight Joseph Parker for the belt if Oleksandr Usyk chooses to vacate the belt rather than face his mandatory, as many are anticipating.

Supported by a stacked card of major names in Saudi Arabia too, it promises to be an entertaining evening of fight action all the way from the Middle East on August 16.