Dillian Whyte will have to overcome the odds in order to get a result against Moses Itauma on Saturday night according to the boxing community.
Considered to be a huge underdog going into the bout, the 37-year-old will aim to be the first fighter to defeat the 12-0 Itauma.
Itauma, who is just 20 years old, has been labeled the next Mike Tyson, with some even seeing him as a threat to Oleksandr Usyk.
Despite Whyte considering retirement in recent years, his coach believes he is a different fighter from his recent performances.
Dillian Whyte approaching Moses Itauma fight differently to last two outings, says trainer
Whyte’s trainer Buddy McGirt recently spoke to Boxing News about his fighter’s upcoming fight with Itauma in Saudi Arabia.
Whyte had received some criticism in his last two outings, despite picking up wins over Christian Hammer and Ebenezer Tetteh. When asked on how Whyte was in this camp compared to the previous two, McGirt explained how they differ.
“[Whyte’s] definitely more motivated. His attitude is totally different in this fight than it was for the previous two and I think that’s because it’s a different situation.
We’ve got a young man, fast, athletic, he can punch.”
The trainer also referenced Whyte’s underdog status going into the fight, “That gives him the extra motivation.”
McGirt also said that he wasn’t surprised that Whyte isn’t being favored going into the bout. “Whenever boxing gets a new face, and they’re knocking everybody out… It’s to be expected. I’m not surprised at all.”
Buddy McGirt on why he hasn’t watched much footage on Moses Itauma
Boxing fans were surprised when Whyte’s coach said that he had not seen much footage of Itauma in the lead up to the headline bout. However, McGirt has addressed the statement he made.
“When I tell people I’ve never seen him fight, people are like, ‘Oh, why don’t you study him? I mean, he’s knocked everybody out.
It’s no disrespect to the fighter. The kid is young, he’s athletic, you know what I mean, he can fight. He’s knocked everybody out. So what am I going to study? A knockout?”
In terms of his approach to the fight with Itauma, McGirt said, “We have to make it a dog fight. But, we have to make it a smart dog fight.”