Rising heavyweight sensationMoses Itauma, at just 20 years old, delivered a stunning first-round knockout victory over former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in their highly anticipated Saudi Arabianshowdown. The bout, which was expected to test the young fighter, instead saw Itauma dominate from the opening bell, sending Whyte to the canvas after a barrage of punches just 119 seconds into the contest.

Whyte, aged 37, had made headlines for his unusually lean physique, tipping the scales at his lightest in a decade. However, despite his physical preparation, he barely threw a punch against Itauma. The fight saw Itauma feinting before unleashing jabs, systematically breaking down Whyte who was bullied back into a neutral corner and peppered with shots to the head and body. Though Whyte managed to rise to his feet, referee Mikael Hook waved off the contest, sparing him further damage as he appeared to have lost all his senses.

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Following his impressive victory, Itauma expressed his gratitude to Dillian Whyte for the opportunity to showcase his skills. He admitted to experiencing nerves for the first two minutes but quickly identified and executed an opening. When asked about his next steps, Itauma confidently stated his willingness to fight anyone, mentioning Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel as deserving contenders he would readily face. The Chatham clubber's dominant performance has firmly established him as a serious world title contender, rocketed from prospect status.

Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has publicly expressed his desire for Itauma's next opponent to be none other than undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Itauma, already ranked as the WBO's No. 1 heavyweight, has added the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title to his collection, which also includes the WBA International and WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight titles. His victory over Whyte marks his 13th straight professional win.

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Matchroom Boxing chiefEddie Hearn, reflecting on the fight, stated his belief that Dillian Whyte had no business being in the ring with Moses Itauma at this stage of his career, citing it as the 'worst matchup' given Whyte's lack of recent activity. Hearn felt sad for Whyte, acknowledging the significant financial incentive for the veteran to take the fight, but admitting he didn't expect Whyte to wilt so quickly. The outcome casts doubt on the future of Whyte's career, while Itauma's stock continues to soar in the heavyweight division.