Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte
Moses Itauma, a promising heavyweight boxer from Britain, is gearing up for a significant matchup against Dillian Whyte in the highlight event of the Riyadh Season on August 16. This event coincides with the Esports World Cup and marks an important step in the 20-year-old’s rising career. Itauma boasts an undefeated record of 12 victories, with 10 wins coming by way of knockout, and he has impressively finished his last eight opponents in under two rounds. Just last month, he showcased his power on the undercard of the Josh Taylor vs. Ekow Essuman fight in Glasgow, where he stopped Mike Balogun in the second round.
In contrast, Whyte, now 37 years old and with a record of 31-3, is looking to extend his winning streak to four after bouncing back from a knockout defeat to Tyson Fury during his title challenge in April 2022. The former heavyweight title contender was previously slated to face Joe Joyce in April but had to pull out due to an injury.
Notable Fights on the Card
Apart from the Itauma-Whyte clash, the fight card features several exciting bouts:
- Nick Ball defending his WBA featherweight title against Sam Goodman. Ball, who holds a record of 22-0-1 with 13 knockouts, has successfully defended his title against notable fighters, including Ronny Rios and TJ Doheny, after winning it in a controversial split decision against Raymond Ford in June 2024. Goodman, unaffected by recent setbacks, where he withdrew from potential bouts against Naoya Inoue due to an eye injury, will step up to featherweight to challenge Ball for the title.
- A matchup between two former super featherweight champions: Ford and Anthony Cacace. After losing the title to Ball, Ford has moved up a weight class and achieved two commanding wins, hoping to secure a shot for the IBF super featherweight title against Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez. Cacace, previously the IBF champion, vacated his title to take on Leigh Wood instead, triumphing in a notable victory back in May 2024.
- Filip Hrgović is set to face British heavyweight champion David Adeleye. Following a loss to Daniel Dubois in June 2024, Hrgović rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Joe Joyce earlier this year. Adeleye, known for his controversial stoppage of Jeamie “TKV” Tshikeva, will aim to defend his title in this high-stakes bout.
Lastly, the action will be rounded off by a super featherweight matchup between Japan’s Hayato Tsutsumi and Britain’s Qais Ashfaq. With Tsutsumi holding a record of 7-0 and Ashfaq at 13-3-1, fans can anticipate a thrilling finale to the event.
