Itauma and Whyte are Queensberry fighters. Who is Warren backing?

Frank Warren, head of Queensberry Promotions, has weighed in on the upcoming all-Queensberry heavyweight clash between Moses Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs) and Dillian Whyte (31-3, 21 KOs), scheduled for August 16.

– At the start of this, Moses looks like a clear favorite. But how big of a step up is this for him?

“It’s a huge step. Dillian’s no fool. He believes in himself, and so does his team. Moses has done everything he’s needed to so far, but there’s still that question — what happens if it goes late?

Yes, he’s gone the distance once, but not with someone crafty — someone who wants to drag it into the deep waters and has serious power. And Dillian is that kind of fighter. We’ve seen it in his fights with Usyk, Chisora, Joshua — he can punch.”

– How much power does Dillian have left at this stage?

“We’ll find out on the night. Even if he’s got something left, Moses will need to show his strength. He’s looked devastating in recent fights — and not just because of his power. His ring IQ, calmness, and control have all been first-class. He’ll come into this in the best shape of his life.”

– Was it difficult to make a fight between two of your own fighters?

“It was hard, we had to work at it. There was also a possible fight between Whyte and Joseph Parker. We were close to finalizing it, but when the Riyadh Season offer came in, there was no debate — we had to take it.”

– How do you see the fight playing out?

“Both fighters are with us, but I have to back Moses — we’ve been investing in him from day one. Still, it won’t be easy. Whyte and his team are confident.”

– Will questions arise if the fight goes into rounds six or seven?

“Not necessarily, if he’s in control and boxing smart. The only concern would be stamina in the later rounds.”

– So you’re expecting Whyte to truly test him?

“Yes — and that’s exactly what we want. These are the fights that matter. This is a vital step in Moses’ journey, and we’ll get some real answers in this one,” said Warren.

Photo: Boxing News