Boxing
Moses Itauma secures brutal one-round stoppage to dismiss Dillian Whyte in Riyadh
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Moses Itauma stopped Dillian Whyte inside one round to score the biggest win of his career so far as he delivered a two-minute masterclass to triumph in Riyadh.
The WBO #1 contender underlined his credentials as the future of heavyweight boxing to dismiss the veteran with a knockout victory in brutal, barnstorming fashion.
Heading into his latest bout, many had wondered if Itauma could come unstuck against what made for the hardest test he has faced on paper since he turned professional.
Yet at the ANB Arena, the twenty-year-old needed less time than elapsed between the two men's ringwalks to send Whyte sprawling to the canvas and out of the contest.
For the veteran star, it surely ends any hope of still contending for a world title at the top of the division, three years on from his defeat to Tyson Fury at Wembley Stadium.
But for the younger star, who moves to 13-0 with eleven knockouts, the prospect of a world title shot within the next year appears closer to reality after another consummate turn.
Despite top billing for his first headline bout, Itauma made his ringwalk first in a dark leather vest - and was subsequently made to wait as Whyte stalled for time in the locker room.
When he finally emerged to the sounds of John Williams' theme from Jaws and AC/DC's Back in Black , the older star stalked the ring as Michael Buffer concluded formalities.
If it was to play mind games with his opponent, it proved to be for naught. Itauma started on the front foot, and barely halfway into the first round, seemed on the cusp of victory.
A brutal combination of shots backed Whyte onto the ropes, where a combo to the temple sent him staggering into the corner, attempting to keep himself upright under the attack.
Itauma offered no respite, however, and as his foe swung back across the edge of the canvas, he unfurled another combination to leave him dropped and crumpled underfoot.
Whyte managed to regather his feet, but as he slumped back against the corner again, officials waved off the contest to his frustration, leaving Itauma to sketch a bow to the crowd.
What the future holds for a man whose last three fights beforehand saw a series of increasingly unconvincing victories remains a question, with retirement surely to be mooted.
For Itauma, however, the only way is up, with the star sure to be considering whether it is time to mount a challenge against one of the division's most decorated operators.
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