Dave Allen and Tony Bellew question Moses Itauma reputation before biggest test yet

Moses Itauma's quality as a top fighter cannot be confirmed until he faces a truly testing opponent, says Dave Allen, as the star faces Dillian Whyte in Riyadh this month.

The star, one of the rising figures of the heavyweight scene, heads to Saudi Arabia looking to further underline his position as the WBO's top-ranked contender.

He will face a former title challenger live on DAZN Pay-Per-View, in what many view as the biggest test of a career that has already set some sky-high expectations.

Speaking on DAZN's Split Decision, WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight champion Allen wonders however if he can live up to the hype when he is yet to be tested.

DAZN

"I think he's brilliant," he said. "I think he possibly is the real deal. But ability is only part of it. You can have the toughness, the chin, but we've not seen that yet.

"Until he does it against top opposition, how can we say he's the next big thing? Dillian Whyte's had three fights in three years.

"We're not sure what he's got left. Frank Warren is gussing he's got nothing, or he wouldn't be boxing him in. He's never been pushed.

"The two times he's gone round, he's looked a bit bereft of ideas. I know he's only young, but he was frustrated. What if someone who can punch back frustrates him? "

Tony Bellew agreed with the assessment that Itauma has the chops to succeed, but speculated whether the calibre of opponent he has faced thus far is a problem too.

"I think he's being purely this hyped because we've seen that size isn't everything," he added. "Oleksandr Usyk has shown us that.

"He's not the biggest heavyweight, but I think in terms of skill, potential and technical ability, he's a standout. When you tell me he's never lost, that worries me.

"If he's never faced adversity, the last place you want to face [it] is under the lights on fight night. I hope he's facing a huge amount of adversity in that gym in sparring."

Watch Itauma vs Whyte live on DAZN

You can watch Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte live on DAZN on August 16. More information is available here.