Heavyweight boxing returns to Saudi Arabia on Saturday night, with unbeaten rising star Moses Itauma topping the bill against Dillian Whyte in Riyadh.
Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs) has just missed out on the always unlikely goal of usurping Mike Tyson as the youngest heavyweight world champion of all time, but the lavishly gifted southpaw appears destined for the top of the sport.
Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has already earmarked Itauma as a potential opponent for reigning two-time undisputed heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk. To keep those ambitions on track, he must deal with a perennial nearly man of the sport's glamour division.
It's almost a decade since Whyte's simmering feud with Anthony Joshua launched him into the public consciousness. 'The Bodysnatcher' (31-3, 21 KOs) was obliterated by a seventh-round uppercut, but not before giving a first demonstration of Joshua's vulnerabilities when he rattled the 2012 Olympic gold medalist with a short left hook.
MORE: Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte undercard: Complete list of fights before main event
Banner wins over Joseph Parker, Derek Chisora and Oscar Rivas preceded a shock KO loss to Alexander Povetkin during lockdown. Whyte avenged that setback, but it only added to his wait for a shot at then-WBC champion Tyson Fury. Dillian turned in a lacklustre performance at Wembley and was stopped in five, falling foul of the uppercut once more.
A long-touted rematch with Joshua was kiboshed during fight week in August 2023, when Whyte returned an adverse analytical finding. He now finds himself in the last-chance saloon against a dazzling talent not much older than the legal drinking age.
Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte prediction
The British heavyweight who looks best equipped to follow in Itauma's fast-tracked footsteps to the top is Leo Atang. The 18-year-old is a five-time national amateur champion and won World Boxing Under-19 World Championship gold in 2024.
Atang made short work of Milen Paunov on his professional debut last month and returns to action against Cristian Uwaka on September 6, on the undercard of Pat McCormack vs. Miguel Parra in Sunderland.
As you'd expect, Atang has been watching Itauma's progress with interest and he expects his fellow youngster to get the job done, even though he acknowledges Whyte marks a step up in class for a fighter on a run of eight consecutive stoppages.
Queensberry/Leigh Dawney
"I still see the same outcome, Itauma coming out on top," he told The Sporting News. "At the same time, it's heavyweight boxing and Dillian's not going to be a pushover. Anything can come back.
"Hats off to him, Moses. I think he's an unbelievable talent and what he's doing for young heavyweights like myself, paving the way, it's good. But, again, Dillian has been in with the best and he's not going to fall over for anybody. He's got a point to prove."
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Filip Hrgovic vs. David Adeleye prediction
On the undercard is an intriguing clash between another formerly elite amateur, Filip Hrgovic, and yet another British big man, David Adeleye.
Hrgovic (18-1, 14 KOs) got back in the win column with a relentless performance to earn a decision over the faded Joe Joyce last time out, while Adeleye (14-1, 13 KOs) won the British title with a controversial stoppage over Jeamie TKV on the same bill at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena.
Queensberry/Leigh Dawney
Adeleye suffered his only career defeat on his previous visit to Saudi Arabia when he was stopped by Whyte's one-time protege Fabio Wardley, but Atang believes it would be foolish to rule out an underdog triumph.
"I've always been quite a big fan of Adeleye, I like his style and he's a massive puncher," he said. "He's one of those fighters who could be losing 11 rounds and knock them out in the 12th. He's always exciting to watch.
"Then you've got Hrgovic, who shapes up well, he puts his shots together nicely. I was supposed to spar Adeleye in the build-up to this but I've got a dodgy hand at the moment."