Dillian Whyte’s career hangs in the balance as the 37-year-old enters into a make-or-break bout against Moses Itauma.
Dillian ‘The Bodysnatcher’ Whyte has not snatched any bodies of note since his win over Alexander Povetkin to claim the interim world title.
Since then, he has lost to Tyson Fury, edged a win over Jermaine Franklin, and beaten Christian Hammer and Ebenezer Tetteh in two lackluster performances.
As a result, many are expecting August 16th to be the final time Whyte howls his signature wolf howl, as Moses Itauma could retire the seasoned veteran in brutal fashion.
As the fight looms, Whyte has been written off by the masses in and around boxing, but is determined to prove he still has more to give to the sport that saved his life.
Dillian Whyte was written off by family ahead of Moses Itauma fight
In an interview with Queensberry, Whyte spoke to Dev Sahni about his upcoming fight, and triumphed at the fact he has even lived to see the age of 37 and make the money he’s made.
“I didn’t think I would get to this age at all. […] I just kept on pursuing and survived a lot of stuff, and yeah it worked out. I kept fighting.”
Whyte has defied the odds to make it to the top, not only because of his limited boxing background, having been a kickboxer first and foremost, but also because of his youth, in which he was shot and surrounded by criminal behavior.
Whyte even became a father at the age of 13, with his eldest son being four years older than Itauma.
When speaking on his doubters, Whyte revealed the critics don’t faze him, as he has already been written off by some of the people that mean the most to him,
“I’ve been written off my whole life. All of a sudden, I’m gonna be upset because…? I got written off by even family members, so why am I gonna be upset that someone with their opinion is writing me off?”
Whyte likened himself to Carl Thompson ahead of this fight, referencing the time a 40-year-old Thompson defeated a rising David Haye when he was expected to lose to the rising star.
Dillian Whyte likens Moses Itauma to Godzilla and himself as a civilian
Ahead of the fight, Whyte spoke on how Itauma has been praised highly, and how he is aware he has a tough test ahead of him,
“They compare him to two legends. Mike Tyson with Ali‘s footwork, you know. I’m fighting Godzilla. [I’m] just one of the small people in the Japanese movie that runs around when Godzilla is trampling Tokyo.”
Itauma indeed has high expectations put upon him, with Turki Alalshikh already suggesting Itauma vs Oleksandr Usyk was the fight to make, completely snubbing Joseph Parker.
It remains to be seen whether Itauma will meet these expectations, or even surpass them, on August 16th.