Moses Itauma has knocked out almost everyone put in front of him. But this weekend, he faces his biggest challenge yet.
In the glitzy fight capital of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this Saturday, 20-year-old heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma will step into the ring for the most important fight of his career to date – a 12-round showdown with veteran Dillian Whyte.
For boxing fans, it’s the perfect clash of generations. For Itauma, it could be the final step before a world title shot. But behind the undefeated record, highlight-reel knockouts and rising global profile is a deeper story
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— Bet9ja: The home of #betBOOM! ? (@Bet9jaOfficial) August 11, 2025
The most explosive talent in heavyweight boxing is our new brand ambassador.
We're Team Itauma. pic.twitter.com/UE6gOR9fy1
A Journey Shaped by Identity
Moses Itauma’s journey begins in Kezmarok, a small town in Slovakia, where he was born to a Slovakian mother and Nigerian father. But life there was far from idyllic. The family faced open racism, and when Moses was still a toddler, his parents made the life-changing decision to move to England in search of safety and opportunity.
They settled in Chatham, Kent. It was there that the seeds of a boxing career were planted – first by his older brother Karol, a successful amateur boxer in his own right, who dragged Moses to the gym. At first, boxing didn’t stick. He flirted with football, preferred the social side of training, and even briefly gave the sport up in his early teens.
But the sacrifices of his parents lingered in his mind.
“My mum and dad sacrificed a lot to come here. I was like, I need to make the most of what my parents’ decisions were.”
Nigerian Heritage
Itauma is proud of all sides of his heritage. But when he talks about Nigerian fighters, there’s a clear pride in the lineage he’s part of.
“On my dad’s side, everyone knows about African culture and them being stupidly strong,” he said. “Just look at the boxing landscape now – Lawrence Okolie, Richard Riakporhe, Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce, Daniel Dubois and Deontay Wilder, all of Nigerian heritage. And in the UFC, you’ve got guys like Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman. The proof is in the pudding.”
It’s a serious list, and Moses wants to be the next name etched into Nigerian fight history.
Sparring with the Elite
By 13, Itauma was already sparring with grown men. Before his 16th birthday, he was trading shots with names like Anthony Joshua, Lawrence Okolie, Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois. These weren’t rumours – Okolie and Joyce confirmed it themselves. Tyson Fury later joined that list too. At 20, he’s now shared rounds with half the heavyweight top ten, and none of them forgot him.
Amateur Greatness
In the unpaid ranks, Moses was simply untouchable. His record read 24 wins from 24 fights, with 11 knockouts and a medal collection that includes English titles, European Youth gold, and a World Youth Championship. At one European tournament, he stopped every opponent in the first round.
The Professional Rise
Itauma’s professional debut came in January 2023 on the undercard of Beterbiev vs Yarde. It lasted 23 seconds. Marcel Bode never stood a chance.
From there, he climbed rapidly: 12 wins, 10 knockouts. He hasn’t gone past Round 2 since his fourth fight. Veterans like Mariusz Wach and Demsey McKean were expected to test him – instead, they were swept aside with cold precision.
In May 2025, Moses knocked out Mike Balogun in Round 2, a performance that saw him elevated to #1 in the WBO heavyweight rankings. No longer just a hot prospect, he’s now in line for a world title – potentially against undisputed heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk.
Backed by Boxing Royalty
The rise of Moses Itauma hasn’t gone unnoticed – especially among the greats.
Tyson Fury, the former multiple world heavyweight champion, has publicly called him “the future of the heavyweight division.” And Lennox Lewis, the last British fighter to hold the undisputed crown, went even further, describing him as “the next coming.”
Whyte vs Itauma – The Biggest Test Yet
Now comes the biggest night of his life: a headliner against 37-year-old Dillian Whyte in Saudi Arabia. Whyte is no stranger to the big stage – he’s fought Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker. He’s rugged, experienced, and hungry to revive his career.
He was offered Joshua. He was offered Parker. He chose Itauma.
“I think Moses Itauma – no one wants to fight him. My whole career has been taking fights nobody else wants. Nothing’s changed now.”
Dillian Whyte on why he's taking the Moses Itauma fight:
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 12, 2025
"No one wants to fight him… If I have the same mindset as everyone, boxing will be dead.
Maybe I'm crazy. I see things differently." pic.twitter.com/Gxwc7Qd6ck
For Itauma, this is his first main event. It’s also the kind of fight that could propel him into world title contention overnight.
“It’s pressure, yeah. But I love a bit of pressure,” Moses said. “I know it’s there, but I don’t let it sink in.”
He calls himself a modern-day gladiator. And in Saudi Arabia this Saturday, under the lights of Riyadh, he enters the arena once again.
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by MaikCeeCroxB
Nigerians shinning globally