A spectacular knockout in Saudi Arabia saw Moses Itauma demolish Dillian Whyte in under two minutes, marking a stunning victory for the 20-year-old prospect.
The young heavyweight needed just the opening round to dispatch his 37-year-old opponent with a relentless assault - and indicated he has Oleksandr Usyk in his sights.
Whyte found himself overwhelmed from the outset, unable to establish his jab whilst absorbing punishment against the ropes.
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Moses Itauma lived up to his growing reputation with a stunning victory over Dillian Whyte
|REUTERS
A combination of precise jabs and punishing body shots from Itauma proved too much for the veteran fighter.
The comprehensive victory maintains Itauma's perfect professional record, now standing at 13 wins without defeat, with 11 of those victories coming by way of knockout.
The bout represented the most significant victory in Itauma's career to date, with Whyte being by far his most accomplished opponent.
Remarkably, nine of Itauma's 11 knockouts have occurred within the opening round, demonstrating his explosive power and finishing ability.
Despite being favoured to win, the speed of Itauma's victory surprised many observers.
The youngster executed his trainer Ben Davison's game plan to perfection, recognising patterns in Whyte's movement during the opening minute.
"After the first minute, I thought, I keep seeing this happen and can't miss him. Brilliant game plan," Itauma said following his dominant display.
Looking ahead, Itauma expressed willingness to face any challenger, specifically mentioning several high-profile names.
"Honestly, I'll fight anybody they put in front of me. Shout out a name and I'll be there," he declared.
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Moses Itauma put on a spectacular showing within one round to defeat Dillian Whyte
|REUTERS
The unbeaten fighter acknowledged that Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel deserve their opportunities at unified champion Usyk, whilst noting his own WBO number one ranking creates an intriguing potential matchup with Parker.
When the crowd suggested Usyk as a potential opponent, Itauma remained confident about his championship prospects.
"If I get the opportunity, I will be 100 per cent (a champion in 2026)," he stated, highlighting his youth at just 20 years old with "10 or 15 years left" in the sport.
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Moses Itauma has big plans to take on Oleksandr Usyk
|REUTERS
Promoter Frank Warren offered glowing praise for his young charge, expressing surprise at the swift conclusion of the bout. "I was surprised. I thought it'd be a bit longer than that," Warren admitted.
"But he's a finisher - he catches you, doesn't get flustered, every punch he throws is a hurtful punch and measured," Warren explained.
In perhaps his highest endorsement, Warren suggested Itauma might be the most promising fighter he has worked with at this early career stage.
"He's an unbelievable boxing talent and probably the best at this stage of his career that I've been involved with," he concluded.