Whyte on Itauma: "What if I knock him out in the first round?"

Dillian Whyte isn’t buying into the hype surrounding Moses Itauma without putting up a fight. The British heavyweight veteran gave a candid take on his upcoming opponent and the challenge that awaits him on August 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“You can’t be afraid of death — it’s the only way through. My mindset is: nobody wants to fight Moses — he’s young, sharp, full of energy — but you have to believe in yourself and take risks. Sometimes, that’s what it takes to get where you want to be.

People say he’s the most dangerous fighter of this generation and the next. So for me, it’s a win-win situation. Let the experts talk.

What if I go in and knock Moses out in the first round? Everyone’s calling him the next Mike Tyson, saying he should be fighting Usyk. But if I go in, land clean, and stop him — what does that mean? That he’s not good? No. It just means it was a good fight and he got caught.

This is what I love. I’ve got to appreciate the opportunity because it can be gone tomorrow. Today you’re on top, tomorrow you're nothing. I’m focused, and on August 16, I’ll go in and do my thing. Let him be the A-side, I’ll be B or even C — someone’s going down, and that’s all that matters.”

The clash between Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs) and Whyte (31-3, 21 KOs) will be one of the highlights of the card in Riyadh — a true test of youth versus experience.

Photo: TNT Sports