A former heavyweight world champion believes Saturday’s main event can go one of two ways, but there are still questions about the young star.
Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte is an anticipated showdown that is seen as a crossroads fight in the careers of both men, where it could be the end for ‘The Body Snatcher’ or a bump in the road for the 20-year-old.
Professionals are hoping Whyte can pose some questions to the prospect to see if Itauma’s world title hopes are exactly what people hype them up to be.
The hard-hitting future of the heavyweight division will be looking to finish Dillian in stunning fashion, but it is all about staying switched on for every second of the fight to avoid his wild, heavy attacks.
Moses Itauma poses ‘unknowns’ for Dillian Whyte, says a former heavyweight champion
Now another former world champion, David Haye, has weighed in on the fight, and especially the ‘no chin’ criticisms.
A former two-weight world champion, Haye has been at heavyweight before and found some success, but he knows the pressures of being hyped by promoters and media.
When speaking to BoxNation about the outcome of the fight, he explained the potential mindset of the 37-year-old heading into the fight as the underdog.
He said: “100% Dillian Whyte if he’s paid the price in training. If he’s taken it seriously, which by all accounts he has, he doesn’t want to be going out getting knocked out by a 21-year-old novice. That’s not in the script for him.
“He’s been there, seen it, done it. He’s fought the very, very best and always given a good account of himself, and he has the ability to win this fight because he’s so experienced.
“Does he still have that magic? I haven’t seen it in his last two fights, but physically, he looks in a different place to those last two fights. When people start taking their eye off it and start judging him on his worst performances, you can miscalculate.”
The performances against Ebenezer Tetteh and Christian Hammer ended by stoppage, but the opponents did not produce much resistance, while Whyte looked a shell of his usual self.
Although we have not seen the younger man tested in any way yet, with no experience of ten rounds in his 12 fights as a professional, the ‘Hayemaker’ is unsure what to expect.
“He’s going to be swimming in water, uncharted territory, uncharted waters. He’s going to be doing something he hasn’t done yet under the lights. He may have done it in sparring,” he said.
“We don’t know what his punch resistance is like because he’s so skillful. He’s not given his opponents a chance to test his chin.
“But can he handle the big pressure? I don’t know. I’d like to believe he could because I think he’s got all the ingredients you need to be a world champion for sure. He’s got everything you need, but there are a few unknowns.”
Moses Itauma promises to bring the heat to catch ‘sheep’ Dillian Whyte in their clash
Ahead of their scheduled clash, the two engaged in an interesting exchange of words in their final press conference ahead of today’s weigh-in.
Whyte has continued to claim that because he is not expected to win by the media and fellow boxers that he is a huge underdog heading into fight night.
However, his opponent does not believe his words, Itauma said: “There’s a rule in the 48 Laws of Power where you play a sheep to catch a wolf, and I feel like that’s what Dillian Whyte is doing.
“(But) if he is, (or) if he’s not, it doesn’t matter, because I’m going to bring the heat Saturday night.”
A sharp response followed from the man whom he believes is a ‘sheep’.
“There ain’t no sheep around here. There’s a lot of wolves around here, but no sheep,” Dillian said.
Their final face-off will take place at the ceremonial weigh-in this evening, with both looking to hold ground before they battle in the squared circle in Saudi Arabia.