Eddie Hearn feels Dillian Whyte is stepping into a “nightmare fight” against Moses Itauma.
Whyte is set to face rising heavyweight prospect Itauma, with the pair finalising a deal for a heavyweight meeting on August 16 in Riyadh, according to Ring Magazine.
Itauma, the consensus future of the division, has breezed past his first 12 professional opponents, only going the distance twice.
Whyte, a former heavyweight world title challenger, has fought just three times in as many years and Hearn, who has promoted much of the 37-year-old’s career, feels this will be his downfall against Itauma.
“Fair play to Dillian who has been so inactive,” the Matchroom boss told IFLTV.
“I look at it and say has he reached the age where he’s like, ‘look it’s a massive payday, I’ll roll the dice and if I don’t [win] then maybe that’s the end of the road for me.’
“It’s a nightmare fight for Dillian Whyte coming in with no form or activity against someone like Moses Itauma who’s just red hot and on fire.
“But it’s a great bit of matchmaking I think for Moses Itauma and it’s real step-up.
“As much ability as Moses has got, I keep saying he hasn’t fought anyone.
“So this is his first legit test.
“I love Dillian but I do expect Moses to win in great style.”
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’The Body Snatcher’ has won three on the spin since a sixth round stoppage defeat to Tyson Fury in a bid for the WBC heavyweight crown in April 2022, but has been plagued with injuries and controversy.
The Brixton man was withdrawn from a scheduled rematch with Anthony Joshua in August 2023, after failing a drugs test, but was cleared last March after an investigation proved that the positive test was caused by a contaminated supplement.
Whyte was supposed to have fought Joe Joyce in April, but pulled out with a hand injury, with his last fight a seventh round retirement win over Ebenezer Tetteh in December.
Despite his inactivity, Whyte represents Itauma’s first jump up in competition with the Slovakian-born Brit blowing away Mike Balogun in his most recent outing in Glasgow last month.
Liverpool’s Nick Ball is set to defend his WBA featherweight world title against Australia’s Sam Goodman, while Anthony Cacace will battle fellow former world champion, Raymond Ford, who was beaten by the aforementioned Ball last June.
