Moses Itauma versus Dillian Whyte: DAZN Esports World Cup Riyadh Card Preview
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (August 14th, 2025)– Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, promoter Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions, and DAZN pay-per-view will present a six-bout card of Esports World Cup boxing on August 16, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring top heavyweight contenders Dillian Whyte and Moses Itauma in a featured 12-round bout. BoxLive has Itauma as the favorite at 1/10 -1000, with 6/1 and +600 for Whyte if he wins.
After 12 rounds of heavyweight bombs away slugfest action, with knockdowns certain to take place, the bout between Itauma, 12-0 with 10 knockouts, Chatham, Kent, United Kingdom, and Whyte, 31-3 with 21 knockouts, Brixton, London, United Kingdom, is predicted to end in an Itauma decision. The bout is going to be an action-packed thriller in the classic mold of George Foreman versus Ron Lyle decades ago, except that Itauma’s inexperience makes the bout a good candidate to go the distance on the scorecards. There are factors to consider.
Dillian ‘The Body Snatcher’ Whyte, at age 37, has gotten older, which can be an advantage or disadvantage. Whyte’s boxing strengths include: top flight experience; power punching, especially his left hook; and a strong chin which allows him to withstand most punishment. Whyte is known for possessing an aggressive, come-forward style, with a unique, outstanding ability to cut off the ring on his opponents. However, Whyte has a big weakness related to emotional recklessness and temperament. He sometimes loses focus, becomes overly aggressive and neglects his defense, making himself vulnerable at times. Whyte, also lacks speed in both hands and feet, and his tendency to load up on punches can lead to balance issues. Whyte has fought Brian Minto, Anthony Joshua, Dereck Chisora (twice), Joseph Parker, Lucas Browne, Oscar Rivas, Alexander Povetkin (twice), Tyson Fury, Jermaine Franklin Jr., Ebenezer Tetteh and Christian Hammer among others, a who’s who of the heavyweight division. He has been stopped three times, and his chin could be suspect against a hard hitter like Itauma. Whyte has been in with A.J. Joshua and Fury, and his age and experience could drag Ituama into the later rounds behind on the scorecards. His conditioning will be a major factor in this bout. Oleksandr Usyk, the current heavy weight champion, is 38 years old, and his age is not an issue due to his training discipine regimen.
The heavyweight southpaw Moses Itauma, a 20-year-old hard-hitting heavyweight boxer who turned pro in 2023, is known for his powerful left hand, impressive speed and strong footwork. He has shown excellent balance, composure, and ring generalship in the ring. While his power and hand speed are superior to Whyte, his power, speed, and footwork have yet to be tested against top-fight competition. Some question whether his strength will translate to success against a more experienced step-up fighter like Whyte. A weakness could be dealing with and reaching highly defensive fighters. Two veteran heavyweight club fighters without winning records, Konstiantyn Dovbyshchenko of Ukraine, and Kevin Nicolas Espindola of Argentina, who currently have a combined 28 losses, were brought into the United Kingdom to test Itauma and used their defensive skills to frustrate Itauma. Both went the six-round distance without issue and took everything Itauma had to throw at them, forcing both unimpressive performance bouts to the scorecards. Itauma hits hard; however, his record does not show veterans with hardcore experience who know how to change the tempo of the bout.
Overall, a solid, even matchup. Knockdowns could affect scoring and would favor Itauma if the bout comes to that. Whyte hopes to expose Itauma. To do that, Whyte would have to avoid getting knocked down, and drag the 12-round bout into the later championship rounds where his technical expertise and heart would give him the points edge on the cards.
World Boxing Association World Featherweight champion Nick Ball, 22-0-1 with 13 knockouts, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom, is predicted to win by 12-round unanimous decision over challenger Sam Goodman, 20-0 with eight knockouts, Albion, New South Wales, Australia in an exciting technical bout between two top featherweights. Box.Live has Ball as the 1/5 -500 favorite with Goodman the underdog at 7/2 +350.
Super featherweight prospect Raymond Ford, 17-1 with eight knockouts, Camden, New Jersey, is favored to win by 12-round unanimous decision over veteran Abraham Nova, 24-3-1 with 17 knockouts, Albany, New York, by way of Puerto Rico. Box..Live has Ford as the 1/7 -710 favorite, with Nova at 5/1 +500.
Super featherweight Muhammad Alakel, 4-0, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is favored to win by a six-round unanimous decision over Yumnam Santosh Singh, 3-6 with one knockout, Thoubai, India.
BBB of C British regional heavyweight champion David Adeleye, 14-1 with 13 knockouts, London, United Kingdom, is predicted to win by knockout over Felip Hrgovic, 18-1 with 14 knockouts, Zagreb, Croatia. Box Live has Adeleye as the 4:1 favorite at +400. Hrgovic is at 4/25 and -630.
Super featherweight Hayato Tsutsumi, 7-0 with four knockouts, Tokyo, Japan, will open the card and is predicted to win by stoppage over Qais Ashfaq, 13-3-1 with five knockouts, Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
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