CAPTAIN hook Dillian Whyte faces being stripped of his best punch against Moses Itauma – so he will have to come armed with a different weapon.
Whyte takes on red-hot 20-year-old prospect Itauma in the sizzling Saudi heat on Saturday – live on DAZN PPV.
GettyDillian Whyte landing a trademark left hook on Joseph Parker[/caption]
And astonishingly, it will be only the SECOND time Whyte has ever faced a southpaw opponent in his 34 professional fights so far.
The last time he did was in 2014 against journeyman Tomas Mrazek at the Camden Centre in Kings Cross – which has a capacity of around 1,000.
Since then, Whyte has earned millions from boxing while challenging for the WBC world title in 2022, losing by knockout to Tyson Fury.
The Body Snatcher – as he is affectionately known for his work to the midsection – has also developed one of the most dangerous left hooks in that time.
But the punch – especially as a counter while catching the opponent’s shot on the gloves – is harder to land on a southpaw due to the angle of stances.
Trainer Mark Tibbs – who had four years and 11 fights with Whyte before their split in 2020 – recognises his former boxer is at risk of being debilitated against leftie Itauma.
Tibbs said on SunSport’s No Glove Lost episode: “Unless Moses is throwing a big hook, catch and whip, Dillian loves doing that, catching the shot and whipping the hook.
“But, he’s got to get the right hand off as well, in my opinion.”
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Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte – all the info
One of the biggest fights of the year has arrived
The highly-touted Moses Itauma faces the biggest test of his fledgling career as he steps into the ring with Dillian Whyte on Saturday night.
Itauma, 20, has great expectations on his shoulders – he has been compared to Mike Tyson and is expected by many to dominate boxing’s heavyweight division over the next decade.
But the Slovakian-born star – who sits at 12-0 (10KOs) is yet to face a test anywhere close to what Whyte can offer.
The Body Snatcher is now 37 and has not looked great in his last couple of fights, but the former world title challenger knows an upset win would catapult him right back to the top table.
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Anthony Yarde – who lost in his two brave light-heavyweight titles challenges to Sergey Kovalev and Artur Beterbeiv – was in agreement.
And he looked to fellow guest on the panel, Derek Chisora, as an example of how Whyte should approach the bout against Itauma.
Yarde, 34, said: “For him to be catching and countering Moses, it has to be fast.
“For him to give Moses trouble or upset Moses, I personally think he’s just got to be a veteran.
“Derek will know, you drag them down. Even (Chisora’s) last fight against Otto (Wallin) I was thinking, is that Derek? Because he put it on him.
“Every time it was, bap, bap, bap, let him have it. Take that and see how you like it. It’s calculated.”
With Whyte’s famous left hook potentially being nullified – Tibbs believes the right hand will need to be more deadly than ever before.
He said: “I’d like Dillian to try get his lead foot on the outside the best he can and get his right hand off because he’s fighting the southpaw.
“But he will have to use that left hand as a bit of a shield and get in mid range as early as possible.
“They don’t call him The Body Snatcher for nothing, so we’re going to have to get round that body and try and unsettle and not let Moses be pretty.
“But Moses is fleet-footed, it’s a difficult task but Dillian’s got the experience, I’m sure he’s got the desire and he’s a fighting man.
“Unless Moses is throwing a big hook, catch and whip, Dillian loves doing that, catching the shot and whipping the hook.
“But, he’s got to get the right hand off as well, in my opinion.”
Tibbs – who never cornered Whyte against a southpaw – called on him to try to drag Itauma into a fight the youngster has never experienced before.
The trainer said: “He’s got a difficult task but if I was Dillian, he’s got to do his utmost to edge him back and put him on his heels. Not too many men can fight on their heels.
“But Moses, like Derek says, is a fresh, fresh lion. He’s a sharp shooter, a great counter puncher, but it’s a cracking match.
“Moses needs a Dillian Whyte right now to see where he’s at. The fans need to see where he’s at, we need to see where Moses is at.
“He’s 12 fights in, it’s not a great deal. It’s a cracking match and what makes it a cracking match is Dillian’s mentality – like I’ve said before – and equally Moses’ mentality.”
Itauma vs. Whyte, August 16: Watch only on DAZN. Buy now at DAZN.com
Mark Tibbs formerly coached WhyteGetty
Moses Itauma takes on Whyte in Saudi ArabiaGetty Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
