Moses Itauma Crushes Whyte With 1st Round Knockout

On August 16, 2025, the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hosted an electrifying night of boxing as part of the Esports World Cup Fight Week, headlined by a heavyweight clash between rising star Moses Itauma and veteran Dillian Whyte. The event, promoted by Queensberry Promotions and streamed live on DAZN PPV, delivered high-octane action, with Itauma solidifying his status as a future heavyweight king. Below is a recap of the main event and the full card results.

Main Event: Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte

The 20-year-old heavyweight prodigy Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) delivered a statement performance, obliterating seasoned contender Dillian Whyte (31-4, 21 KOs) in just 1:59 of the first round. Itauma, defending his WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight title, overwhelmed Whyte with blazing hand speed and devastating power. A flurry of punches, capped by a crushing right hand, dropped Whyte, who struggled to rise and appeared too wobbly, prompting the referee to stop the fight. The Slovakian-born Brit’s clinical finish silenced doubters and sparked calls for bigger matchups, with some fans eyeing a future clash against Mahmoud Charr or Agit Kabayel. Whyte, a former WBC interim champion, now faces questions about his future after this humbling defeat.

Full Card Results

The undercard featured a mix of title fights and competitive bouts, showcasing both established names and rising talents:

• Nick Ball def. Sam Goodman (WBA Featherweight Title): Ball (23-0-1, 13 KOs) retained his WBA featherweight title in a thrilling 12-round battle against Australia’s Sam Goodman (20-1, 8 KOs). The unanimous decision (117-111, 118-110, 115-113) reflected Ball’s relentless pressure, though Goodman’s resilience made it closer than the scorecards suggested. Ball called it a “fan-friendly” fight, cementing his status as a top featherweight.

• Filip Hrgovic def. David Adeleye (WBO International Heavyweight): Hrgovic (19-1, 14 KOs) dominated David Adeleye (14-2, 13 KOs) over 10 rounds, winning by unanimous decision (98-91, 99-90, 99-90). Despite a second-round cut, Hrgovic staggered Adeleye in the eighth and controlled the fight with precise right crosses, retaining his WBO International belt.

• Raymond Ford def. Abraham Nova (Super Featherweight): Former champion Raymond Ford (18-1-1, 8 KOs) outclassed Abraham Nova (24-4-1, 17 KOs) over 10 rounds, securing a unanimous decision (96-94, 97-93, 97-93). Ford’s sharp combinations nearly dropped Nova in the sixth, positioning him for a potential world title shot.

• Hayato Tsutsumi def. Qais Ashfaq (Super Featherweight): Japan’s Tsutsumi (8-0, 5 KOs) stopped Qais Ashfaq (13-4-1, 5 KOs) in the third round (2:08) after three knockdowns, showcasing his dominance in a one-sided beatdown.

• Mohammed Alakel def. Yumnam Santosh Singh (Lightweight): Saudi Arabia’s Alakel (5-0, 1 KO) kicked off the card with a first-round KO (2:26) over India’s Singh (3-7, 1 KO), celebrating with a backflip in a showcase fight.