Anatomy of a knockout: Moses Itauma's most-explosive victory

It did not take long – just under two minutes – but it remains the most-explosive victory of the so-far short career of Moses Itauma.

Itauma, who fights Dillian Whyte tomorrow live and exclusively on DAZN, fought Demsey McKean, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. It was the night that Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury were to meet for the first time for all the heavyweight baubles, and it was the co-main event of the evening.

“Is this teenager the future of the world heavyweight picture?” said commentator Adam Smith as Itauma walked to the ring. “A sparkling southpaw, he’s crushing tough opposition. And he looks the real deal, doesn’t he?”

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Itauma was 10-0 (8). The names on his record had been small to begin with but had started to improve. Five months before, he had knocked out former world title challenger Mariusz Wach in two rounds in London.

McKean was to present a stiffer challenger.

The Australian, 22-2 (14), was 6’6” and had been out of the ring for over a year. His last bout had been against Filip Hrgovic, a tough fight that he had lost in the twelfth round. That had been the first step up for McKean, whose record before had been littered with the names of men who themselves would always be footnotes, at best, in someone else’s boxing story.

Itauma represented something different – a quick route to contender status. If McKean could beat the young British fighter, that might put him in the slipstream of one of the division’s big guns, the men he was paid to impersonate for others as a sparring partner.

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When they came together, it was McKean who looked larger. He was an inch-and-a-half taller, and he looked broader and thicker in the body. And he was heavier, too, but not by much – 251lbs to 249lbs.

Thomas Treiber, the announcer, introduced McKean with all his titles. The applause from the crowd was muted.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

Itauma crouched for the introduction, standing eventually to step towards the middle of the ring, then back again. He also had a series of titles that the ring announcer introduced. The applause for him, too, was muted.

The bell went, and it was Itauma who landed the first punch, moving back quickly, then jabbing. McKean clinched when he came close, failing each time to land anything significant.

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The first knockdown came less than ninety seconds in. An Itauma right to McKean’s face made the Australian flinch his hands to defend, but then the Brit fighter threw a left hand over the top that seemed to club down onto the back of his opponent’s head.

McKean stood again, then moved off and seemed to fall a second time against the ropes, and he looked skittish, stepping forwards, then backwards.

There was a second knockdown, and this was cleaner, even though the setup had been the same. Itauma led again with the right hand and, as McKean went to counter it away, brought his left in over the top. This time, it landed flush against the side of McKean’s head, and the fall that followed was heavier.

McKean’s right hand, now useless, swung loosely over Itauma’s head as the Australian twisted, his feet refusing to budge but his knees giving way, his body turning until he came down awkwardly on one ankle and stayed there. Dazed, he leaned over and fell to his side, his face coming against the canvas like the cheek of a man falling exhausted into bed.

The fight was over. Barely a sweat had been raised.

Watch Itauma vs Whyte live on DAZN

Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte is live and exclusive on DAZN PPV this Saturday, August 16. Buy the PPV for a one-off fee or get it for free by purchasing a DAZN annual subscription (exc. US).

More information, pricing and to buy click here.