The big-hitting rivals will share the ring in Saudi Arabia for the latest instalment of heavyweight classics under the Riyadh Season banner live on DAZN PPV.

Itauma is a rising star of boxing after a hugely impressive breakthrough which has seen him win all his fights so far with 10 of those by KO.

But a feeling of not being recognised for his feats continues to gnaw away at the Slovakia-born star as he prepares to face 37-year-old Whyte.

DAZN

In an exclusive interview with DAZN, 20-year-old Itauma said: “No matter what I do, I’ve always not got the credit.

“If I go in there and knock Dillian Whyte out in the first two rounds, it’d be like ‘Moses was always going to do that’.

“If I go the distance then it would be ‘maybe Moses ain't what we think he is’.

“If I lose the fight then it’s ‘Dillian Whyte was always better’.

“How am I supposed to react to these comments?”

 

Itauma believes in some ways he has been a victim of his own success.

“I’m getting slated so much because my chin hasn’t been tested,” he added.

“Is that not a good thing? I don’t mind it, but I choose to ignore it.

“There’s a famous quote that says ‘if you wrestle with pigs then you end up covered in s—t’ so I’m just trying not to wrestle with the pigs.

“It’s good to be headlining [this weekend] but it’s the end product of my hard work.

“I thought I was going to be world champion when I was 20 years old, so I’m sort of where I wanted to be.

“There are only so many Demsey McKeans and Mike Baloguns I can fight, so this step up is necessary.”

Itauma revealed the extent of a gruelling training camp in the past weeks in preparation for facing Whyte.

He said: “Had you done this interview with me two weeks ago you’d had seen me bruised up, black eyes and busted hands – everything.

“Training camps are tough, just so I can go into a fight and try and knock Dillian Whyte out.”

Watch Itauma vs Whyte live on DAZN

Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte is live and exclusive on DAZN PPV this Saturday, August 16. Watch the PPV for free by purchasing a DAZN annual subscription (exc. US).

More information, pricing and to buy  click here.