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Dillian Whyte wants to achieve one final goal ahead of facing Moses Itauma in career crossroads fight
Cast your mind back to December 2015 and a night at London’s O2 Arena when Anthony Joshua faced his first real test at heavyweight.
In the opposite corner that night was Dillian Whyte, a man who crossed paths with Joshua in the amateurs and was ready to steal his thunder in the professional ranks.
Unfortunately for Whyte, it was Joshua who would triumph by stoppage in round seven. But after a thrilling dust up, it was Whyte’s breakthrough moment into British boxing’s mainstream.
DAZNThe ‘Body Snatcher’ would go on to record a number of impressive wins over the likes of Dave Allen, Derek Chisora and former world champion Joseph Parker before a knockout punch from Alexander Povetkin left him in a heap on the canvas at the peak of a COVID lockdown in 2020.
Whyte got his revenge a year later, and then came his long-awaited shot at a world title in 2022.
Once again, it was another Brit, this time WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury who was the obstacle to glory at a sold-out Wembley Stadium.
For Whyte, it was an opportunity that he squandered as he suffered a third knockout defeat on the sport’s biggest stage.
Losing on such a big occasion and by knockout can often be the final nail in the coffin for the career of some fighters, and it can take a lot for one to recognise their mistakes. Some will also believe it can also be just fate on the night.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s must-win contest against Moses Itauma, live exclusively on DAZN PPV, Whyte recognised that he was at fault for the loss to Fury.
“There is so much more. I didn’t turn up that night, sometimes things happen,” he said.
“I’m a mentally and physically strong person. But when I think about it, what went wrong, I honestly don’t know.
“You can be the hardest, strongest man in the world, little things happen, and it throws you sideways, and that’s what happened in the fight.”
This realisation and honesty is what has motivated him to keep on fighting and striving to be a real force at heavyweight. But this revival has gone mostly under the radar.
An underwhelming majority decision win against Jermaine Franklin was followed by victories over Christian Hammer and Ebenezer Tetteh, but these were performances which generated little fanfare.
How his performances are perceived is given little notice by Whyte who still has one goal left to achieve in a boxing career that is now in its 14th year.
“If I can win the world title, then I’ve had an amazing career,” Whyte continued.
“People who have come from my background, where I’ve come from, that’s an amazing story to inspire people.
“I took up boxing to save my life and stay out of trouble, my mission was to do something constructive. It took over my life.”
This hope of winning a world title is well within Whyte’s grasp, but if he is to take another step towards this lifetime goal, he will have to put in one of, if not, his best career performance against an opponent touted for superstardom.
Itauma has made heavyweight boxing look very easy with his explosive knockouts and calls to face a real ‘live’ opponent have been answered with a head-to-head meeting with Whyte in Riyadh.
For Itauma, a loss would not do significant damage to his career at just 20 years old, there is still plenty of time to improve and fulfil his potential.
Whyte on the other hand is in the last chance saloon. He knows this is his last chance to fulfil his one remaining dream in boxing by winning a world title and toppling a highly touted prospect in Itauma will re-assert the ‘Body Snatcher’ into the heavyweight mix.
A loss, however, would be catastrophic for Whyte.
Not only will his one remaining goal of winning a world title vanish, but there is a high chance Whyte’s boxing career will follow the same fate.
Watch Itauma vs Whyte live on DAZN
Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte is live and exclusive on DAZN PPV this Saturday, August 16. Watch the PPV for free by purchasing a DAZN annual subscription (exc. US).
More information, pricing and to buy click here.
