Tonight's Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte fight is an aftertimers paradise

In gambling parlance an ‘aftertimer’ is a punter who claims they backed a winner after the race is over, often taking great delight in priggishly that revealing they knew fine well how the contest would pan out.

These mythical creatures claim to always be on the good side of a punt or prediction - always after the result is known - without providing any receipts or evidence before or during the event.

I have personally had many a good day spoiled on the Knavesmire at York or at the Cheltenham Festival after bumping into an ‘aftertimer’ in the betting ring immediately after a favourite I have lumped on gets beat. You can always rely on them to dismiss your reasoning why an even money favourite was a ‘good thing’ by simply puffing out their cheeks and assuring you with a cheery smile, quite categorically, ‘that had no chance, mate!’.

It was obviously an even-money favourite for a reason before the off, but by their vague and twisted logic, it actually had zero chance. They are wrong obviously – of course it had a bloody chance – but chances are you will be dismissed as a mug by the ‘aftertimer’, who to rub it in will also tell you they had the winner at 8/1.

DAZN

There is a special place in hell for these gloating fibsters, and sadly they are not confined to the world of racing.

Tonight, Moses Itauma versus Dillian Whyte has the potential to be an aftertimers paradise. It’s one of those fights where the result will look absolutely obvious after the event.

Itauma seems to have it all.  High ring IQ, solid offensive skills, variety, good shot selection, quick feet and reflexes. The young Chatham tyro probably has the fastest hands in the heavyweight division, and for the most part he has looked sensational in streaking to 12-0 (10) since turning over in 2023.

Moses is a red hot 1/9 favourite to win the fight. And while nobody will be getting rich backing him at such a price, it’s hard to make an argument he should be much shorter. In truth, it is hard when a fighter is so heavily favoured to go against the grain.

Whyte is 31-3 (21 KOs) and all three of his defeats have come inside schedule. We’ve seen him get KO’d by a single shot a couple of times now, especially the uppercut he is so susceptible to. He was good enough to comprehensively outbox Jospeh Parker in 2018, but his last convincing performance was probably his rematch victory against Alexander Povetkin in March 2021. He looked worryingly poor for long spells in his last fight before stopping a very limited trial horse in Ebenezer Tetteh. He is 37 and those in the Itauma business are banking on the fact that a long and gruelling career (he turned pro in 2011) is finally catching up with him.

In May 2011, when Whyte out-pointed Tayar Mehmed on debut in the Medway Park Sports Centre in Gillingham, Itauma would have been just six years old. Let that sink in.

Whyte is definitely slowing down. He has a wicked left hook but steams in with that overhand right that he slings in almost like a cricket ball, and when he crudely delivers under the PPV lights in Riyadh on Saturday, he could leave a huge target for Itauma to exploit.

Itauma is the rightful betting jolly here, but it would hardly be the biggest shock in boxing history if Whyte pulled this out of the bag. This is not Mike Tyson vs Buster Douglas territory. Whyte has looked surprisingly lean in the build-up to this, which is visual evidence he is taking the fight seriously and has left no stone unturned in his preparation.

Whyte is the older man, but there's many a good tune played on an old fiddle and with his extensive experience at world level against the likes of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury he cannot be written off. ‘The Body Snatcher’ brings maximum violence, toughness, and veteran craft. It’s a compelling clash of youth versus experience, a tale almost as old as the fight game itself.

For what it’s worth I personally reckon Itauma within five rounds is how it plays out on Saturday, but if Whyte does manage to score an upset brace yourself for the Johnny-come-lately brigade who will insist they knew Itauma - Ring Magazine's Prospect of the Year for 2024 - was a hype job all along and/or that Whyte was far from a busted flush. 

Saturday’s main event should be a really fun fight however it ends.

But however, it ends – and as soon as it ends - prepare yourself for the aftertimers, gloaters, fibsters and fantasists telling you they knew it was going to go down that way. For in boxing, as in life, it’s easy to be wise after the event.  

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.