Rising British-Nigerian heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma is set to face the biggest challenge of his young career as he takes on veteran Dillian Whyte today (Saturday) at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A victory for the undefeated 20-year-old could significantly fast-track his journey toward a world title opportunity.
Itauma enters the bout with an unblemished professional record of 12 wins, including 10 knockouts, and will be headlining a professional card for the first time—marking a pivotal moment in his burgeoning career. The southpaw will square off against 37-year-old Whyte, a seasoned former WBC interim champion who has shared the ring with some of the sport’s biggest names, including Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Joseph Parker.
Seen as one of the most promising young talents in the heavyweight division, Itauma views this bout as his breakthrough moment.
“Everyone needs a breakthrough fight. AJ had it with Charles Martin, Tyson Fury had it with Deontay Wilder, so I guess this is my breakthrough fight,” Itauma told BBC Sport.
Itauma has made headlines for his early ambitions—famously stating he aimed to break Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight champion in history. While that benchmark remains formidable, his progress so far has exceeded that of several British heavyweights at the same stage of their careers.
By comparison, Daniel Dubois was 21 when he reached his 12th professional fight, Tyson Fury was 22, and Anthony Joshua was 25—underscoring the pace of Itauma’s ascent.
Veteran boxing coach Dave Coldwell, who previously guided world champion Tony Bellew, has praised Itauma’s unique potential, suggesting that the young heavyweight stands out among his peers in the current generation of prospects.
Saturday’s high-stakes clash in Riyadh offers Itauma a defining opportunity to announce himself on the global stage—and potentially step into contention for boxing’s most prestigious prize.
