Moses Itauma vows to copy Floyd Mayweather path as he eyes biggest win yet against Dillian Whyte

Moses Itauma is keen to reach the top of the heavyweight division without sustaining too much damage.

Itauma will take on the biggest test of his heavyweight career so far as he prepares to take on renowned challenger Dillian Whyte in Saudi Arabia this weekend.

The glittering 20-year old is earning a reputation as one of the most talented prospects in the sport.

But there have been concerns expressed by the boxing fraternity that his chin is yet to be tested by a top operator in a competitive scenario yet.

Itauma has pointed out that the likes of undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather managed to reach the heights of the sport without needing to take any damage.

He told The Ring: “He [Mayweather] made a lot of money in this sport, came out with his brains intact, no damage and nobody can say, ‘Yeah, I [beat] him up.

“That’s the career that I want. When people are insecure about themselves, they put a little doubt, a little bit of pressure on someone, hoping that they’re going to break because it makes them feel better.

“With Floyd Mayweather, he was such a good fighter. [He was] 50-0, people are insecure about that.

“People don’t want to accept that reality, so they put a bit of doubt and pressure on Floyd Mayweather to get him to crack just so they can feel better.

“I don’t look at it from that perspective. I look at it like, ‘Wow, he’s achieved a lot.'”

Mayweather’s defence was impeccable and the elite level fighter fought the best including the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya.

But he was rarely scathed during his 50-0 career and was never officially dropped as a professional despite some scares including against Shane Mosley in 2010.

Leigh Dawney / Queensberry

Although ‘Pretty Boy’ mastered the art of hitting without getting hit, and Itauma is hoping to follow a similar route.

Of course in the blue-riband division anything can change with one punch, given the power that some of his rivals can hold.

Whyte holds a dangerous left hook and has put to sleep a range of heavyweight contenders during his own stellar career.

But Itauma does have top level experience in sparring with the likes of Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois from a young age.

He believes that boxing fans will just have to wait and see as his career progresses.

Itauma told talkSPORT: “If I go my whole career and I don’t get punched one time, people are going to be like, ‘Oh,
but he can’t be a great because he never got hit.

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“So listen, my chin is not tested under the bright lights. Obviously, I’ve sparred many rounds.

“Sparring is different. There’s only one way to find out.”