Dillian Whyte will be 17 years older than Moses Itauma when the pair step in the ring on Saturday night, as well as having almost three times the amount of professional fights.
Despite the discrepancy in experience, the former Tyson Fury opponent Whyte is a significant underdog going into the bout.
The odds likely favor Itauma due to him being the younger fighter as well as his form and recent activity. Although Whyte is just three years removed from his Fury meeting, his activity has been low since the bout.
Competing three times since his unsuccessful title attempt, Whyte has beaten Jermaine Franklin Jr., Christian Hammer, and Ebenezer Tetteh in a period where he supposedly considered retirement.
Dillian Whyte reveals significant retirement considerations over previous three years
Speaking on Ariel X Ade: The Boxing Show, the former world title challenger Whyte gave an insight into his thoughts and feelings towards competing over recent years.
When asked how recent years in his life had been, Whyte replied, “They’ve been tough, bro. Very tough.”
Whyte added, “I see everyone’s career going good, everyone’s progressing, and I’m just stuck, I’m lost.
I don’t know if I’m going or coming. This spell, it’s been dark, it’s been hard, it’s been tough.”
Whyte was then asked by Ade Oladipo if he ever considered walking away from the sport. Whyte responded by saying, “Every day, bro. Every day for three years, bro. Imagine walking up and having to train and just, nothing.”
The heavyweight then explained the disappointment in his canceled bout earlier this year, where Whyte was supposed to fight Joe Joyce but withdrew due to injury.
Whyte said that his fellow countryman was someone he was eager to fight, and that he felt he had a strong camp in the lead-up to the bout.
However, Whyte did not let the collapsed bout affect his confidence. “Injuries happen. Everybody gets injured.”
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Dillian Whyte explains choice of opponent in Moses Itauma
Although Whyte was offered the likes of Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua, it will be Itauma across the ring from him on August 16th.
When asked by Oladipo why he opted for a match with the rising prospect, Whyte said, “No one wants to fight him, bro.”
The fighter added, “If I have the same mindset as everyone, then boxing would be dead.”
Whyte then said that people should be ‘glad’ of the risks that he takes in the sport, despite feeling criticized by his actions instead.
“This is where boxing fans go wrong. They’d rather ridicule and put that person down rather than [giving them credit].”