Moses Itauma – Dillian Whyte Press Conference Quotes

Moses Itauma vs. Dillian Whyte, the heavyweight main event and other fighters on the card participated in the final press conference today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ahead of fight night in ANB Arena. The event will take place on Saturday, August 16, airing live worldwide exclusively on DAZN PPV (12:45 p.m. ET) and is brought to you in association with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.

Thursday’s press conference saw Itauma (12-0, 10 KOs), ranked No. 1 by the WBO and The Ring’s 2024 Prospect of the year, and Whyte (31-3, 21 KOs), the former two-time interim WBC titleholder, take the microphone ahead of their 10-round heavyweight clash.

Hosted by Dev Sahni, Thursday’s press conference also had the remaining fighters on Saturday’s card take to the stage, including WBA Featherweight Champion Nick Ball (22-0-1, 13 KOs) and the undefeated Sam Goodman (20-0, 8 KOs) who meet in a 12-round title bout in the co-main event along with The Ring Ambassador and Japanese junior lightweight prospect Hayato Tsutsumi (7-0, 4 KOs), and former Olympian Qais Ashfaq (13-3-1, 5 KOs) before their 10-round bout. Heavyweights Filip Hrgovic (18-1, 14 KOs), the 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist, and former British Champion David Adeleye (14-1, 13 KOs) as well as former WBA featherweight strap holder Raymond Ford (17-1-1, 8 KOs) and former WBC super featherweight challenger Abraham Nova (24-3-1, 17 KOs) traded words before their respective 10-round contests. Riyadh’s own “Mighty” Mohammed Alakel (4-0, 0 KO) answered questions also before taking on India’s Yumnam Santosh Singh (3-6, 1 KO) in six rounds of lightweight action.

Here is what the fighters and their teams had to say during the press conference:

Moses Itauma

What are your thoughts on taking on someone you probably grew up watching?

“I put the work in and got myself to this stage. I feel like Dillian Whyte is a good contender. I have respect for every fighter at this table but it’s just business. For a long time, I didn’t think this fight was going to happen, but we’re here and ready to rock and roll.”

Whyte has spoken highly of you, while speaking down on himself. Do you think that this is a strategy?

“I think there’s a rule in the 48 laws of power where you play a sheep to catch a wolf. I feel like that’s what Dillian Whyte is doing. If he is or isn’t, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to bring the heat Saturday night.”

What sort of fight are you expecting from Whyte?

“Honestly, I’m not putting too much pressure on the outcome of the fight. I know my game plan. I know what I need to do. It’s just my job to go in there and execute. Whatever happens Saturday night, let it be.

Do you genuinely believe this fight can end early?

We’re all heavyweights here. Any fight can end at any point. I’m not delusional. I know what threat Dillian Whyte poses. I’m not overlooking him, I’m taking this man seriously.”

Any final thoughts?

“I never thought that this many people would turn up to my fight, let alone a press conference. I’m blessed to be here and grabbing this opportunity with both hands.”

Dillian Whyte

What is the significance of this fight in your career?

“I have had a few main events, a few pay-per-view fights, but you know there is so much more left for me to achieve and to chase in the game. I haven’t really sat back and looked at my career and thought about this and thought about that. I am someone who is not supposed to be here, never had a great amateur career, no support. I am a kid from Jamaica who has been written off many times, meant to be dead before I made it to 20. But here I am, doing stuff, so what more can I say?”

Are you playing the sheep to catch the wolf?

“There aren’t any sheep around here. There are a lot of wolves around here but no sheep.”

You’ve said you’re being thrown to the wolves, but they don’t realize you still have teeth. How sharp are your teeth going into Saturday?

“Wait until Saturday to find out. I’m not going to sit here and say this and that. I always come to fight, nothing has changed. I always try to find a way to get the victory, I always try to find a way and give my all in the ring. Nothing has changed.”

What is the headline going to be about Dillian Whyte after this fight?

“On Saturday we will find out. These guys like to sit down and analyze everything, but I am just chill. People think I am some crazy guy, but I’m just a chill guy. I like to hang out and be chill. But if I get pried, then you know, shit happens. But I am chilled and relaxed. If you leave me alone, I will leave you alone.”

Do you have a message for your opponent on Saturday night?

“Good luck to you man, and hopefully God makes us both leave the ring safe and sound.”

Frank Warren, Queensberry Promotions

How did we arrive here and what’s at stake?

“It happened because these two guys wanted to fight each other, they stepped up. A lot of people were avoiding Moses, a 20 year-old undefeated prodigy at one stage called one of the best prospects in the sport of boxing. He’s firmly established himself. The only man willing to take up the gauntlet was the warrior, Dillian Whyte. We know he always comes to fight, he’s been on the scene a long time, and has fantastic credentials. You’ve only got to look at him to see how he’s trained for this fight, the condition he’s in and the mental attitude he’s got. And we thought, let’s get this fight on. This is the fight that the fans want to see. They want to see the young up and coming guy against somebody who’s proven himself time and time again in the ring.”

Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing

You said that Moses Itauma is a horrible matchup for Dillian Whyte and Moses could indeed look sensational against Dillian Whyte

“Yeah, I think he’s got the momentum going into the fight…I think this is a sneaky good card. A lot of these fights could be main events in their own right. With our guy, Ray Ford, we believe we’ve got the top two 130 pounders in the world with Sugar Nunes and Ray Ford. I think they’re on a collision course. Great fight with Abraham Nova. I love Adeleye against Hrgovic, I think it’s a tremendous fight. If you haven’t seen this guy fight, Sam Goodman, know that the style is going to gel into a fight of the year contender with Nick Ball. It will be a war. And Dillian, to my left, who we share a lot of history with. Just the little glint in his eye this week. I think his back’s against the wall and I think he’s a very dangerous man when that’s the case. I didn’t think he’d take this fight, but the fact that he took it tells me something. And as good as Moses Itauma is, there’s just a couple of questions that he’s never had to answer and I think this is the man to pose them. So make sure you tune in to the global home of boxing, DAZN, this Saturday for what will be a brilliant card, a great heavy weight main event and another incredible night of boxing in Riyadh.”

Nick Ball

How do you feel about his comments that he can go through you?

“Boxing is no joke, it’s serious, and when you put 100% in like me, you know how serious it is and how serious we take these fights. I’m looking forward to it. I’m glad to be back in Riyadh, defending my belt. This is where I won it so it’s a special place to me.”

What do you think of Sam Goodman?

“I don’t really know to be honest. I’m not really thinking too much about him. He’s unbeaten, he’s hungry, he’s coming but he’s not coming like me. It’s going to be an exciting night.”

Do you feel a responsibility to hold on to your title as Britain’s only male world champion?

“Not really, no. I’ve just got to focus on myself and do what I do best. That’s the main focus. If it is there, it’s good pressure. It will be in my favor.”

How does this fight go?

“Nick Ball wins. Exciting.”

Sam Goodman

This is your first fight outside of Australia, your first proper featherweight fight, and your first world title fight. How are you feeling?

“It’s not my first fight at featherweight, I’ve been there before, I’ve been heavier than featherweight as well, so that isn’t anything new. But I’ve got a good guy in front of me, and it’s an opportunity I’ve waited a long time for. I’ve prepared my whole life for this moment, and I’m not ready to let it slip.”

Are you confident you can go through Nick Ball?

“Would I be here if I wasn’t confident? I am here to win this fight, I am here to do a good job on this guy. Simple.”

Are you concerned that there is any intel that [Brad Strand] has given away to Ball?

“No, not really. It is boxing, he is going to have to figure out the puzzle for himself on fight night. I have many avenues to victory, and I will exploit whichever one presents itself on fight night. There are many strings to my bow, and I look forward to showing that on Saturday.”

Do you think Ball has ever faced anyone like you?

“He’s been in with good guys, but like I said, I am a different puzzle. I know he is a tough fighter and it’s a tough challenge for me also, but it’s a challenge I am up for and ready for and I believe I can win.”

Hayato Tsutsumi

According to Ashfaq, you have a head that is joining to get jabbed off on Saturday night. How do you feel about it?

“I’d like to keep it my way from the beginning until the end. I’m boxing my own style this Saturday.”

What is you prediction for Saturday?

“I promise you, I will make it a KO, so please be excited for me.”

Qais Ashfaq

You’re a big underdog coming into this fight, why is this your time?

“As soon as the fight came to me, I was happy to take it. It’s just the way I am, I guess. I’ve been written off all week, all camp really, but I’ve got a great team behind me. I’m humble, all I need is Allah. No matter what, it’s all I need and I look forward to showing it on Saturday.”

Do you see anything special in your opponent?

“He’s got two arms and two legs and he’s got a head that’s going to get jabbed off, so that’s all that matters.”

Filip Hrgovic

Do you still feel that he will be a walk in the park?

“Let’s get down to business. That’s it. He’s said everything. We’ll see on Saturday.”

What did you think of his knockout over Jeamie Tshikeva?

“I think it was against the rules. He should have been disqualified for that knockout but it is what it is. We are here now. Let’s do it.”

How do you feel about his comments that Zhilei Zhang knocked you down and if you slip up against him, he will finish you?

“Zhang didn’t knock me down. It was a slip, he pulled me. If you watch the tape, it was not a real knockdown. Dubois didn’t knock me down, it was stopped because of the cut. I was never down in my career. I feel very strong, very confident in coming to destroy this guy.”

David Adeleye

Is this a jump up in level for you?

“I suppose this is a jump up in level cause obviously he’s better than my opponents I’ve had in the past. But at the end of the day he’s another human being and the only person I fear is God. I think Saturday night is going to be a good night for the fans.”

How do you feel about Hrgovic’s comments that you will be a walk in the park?

“Saturday night, I’m not going to sell the fight. What am I, second on the card? Saturday night, everyone is going to see what’s getting on.”

Raymond Ford

You’ve got a replacement opponent who is trying to take this out of the judge’s hands on Saturday night. How are you feeling about this one?

“Let’s be real, we know he’s not knocking me out, so I don’t know why he’s even trying to hype himself up to even believe that. He knows what I’m coming with, I know what he’s coming with, and he is just simply not on my level, and I am going to show you that I am the best fighter he has been in the ring with.”

Are you looking to do a better job [than O’Shaquie Foster did against Nova] and send out a bit of a message?

“I’m going to. I am going to put hands on him all night until it is time for him to go home.”

Abraham Nova

Why did you say yes to this fight?

“I took this fight because I’ve been active, I’ve been training. I wasn’t going to sit on the couch. They gave me the call and I felt like it was the perfect style of fight for myself. Raymond Ford is a hell of a fighter, but I feel like I belong on that stage with the elites.”

Will you be looking to take the decision out of the judges hands?

“Absolutely. If you’ve been following my career and know my story, you know I’ve had some tough decisions, tough losses. 2025 is my year to turn things around. I think it’s going to be a breaking point for me.”

Do you have a response to Ford feeling that he’s on a completely different level than you?

“He’s a fighter, he’s supposed to feel like that. All fighters feel like we’re on different levels. We’re all entitled to our opinion. I’m glad that he’s confident in himself. I’m confident in myself and we’ll find out Saturday night.”

Mohammed Alakel

How has your year gone, and how much are you looking forward to Saturday?

“I think it went pretty well so far, I’ve been training really hard, and hopefully I can showcase my skills more and more, the more often I fight.

How has the transition been switching training camps to Abel Sanchez in Big Bear?

“Training camp has been tough. Hopefully, I can showcase the skills and what I’ve learned training with Abel [Sanchez].”

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