Riyadh | August 17, 2025

The Saudi capital Riyadh witnessed an extraordinary night of excitement after young British boxer Moses Itauma stole the spotlight with a swift victory over veteran countryman Dillian Whyte, in the heavyweight showdown hosted by anb Arena as part of the Esports World Cup 2025.

Itauma gave his opponent just 50 seconds in the first round before landing a powerful, relentless combination of punches that forced the referee to stop the fight and declare him the winner by knockout, amid an electric atmosphere and a huge crowd following one of the most prominent international bouts of the year.

The fight reflected the high level Riyadh has come to offer as a premier destination for hosting major international sporting events, with Itauma showing his considerable potential as a rising star in world boxing, while Whyte was unable to match his opponent’s speed and punching power.

With this win, Itauma extended his unbeaten professional record, cementing his status as one of the most promising names in world boxing, while the loss marked a difficult moment in Whyte’s long career.

The evening also featured several strong bouts, most notably:

  • Saudi boxer Mohammed Al-Aqel defeated India’s Yonam Santosh Singh by knockout in the first minute, recording his fifth career win.
  • America’s Raymond Ford outpointed Abraham Nova by unanimous decision in a closely fought bout.
  • Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic defeated Britain’s David Adeleye by unanimous decision in a thrilling ten-round contest.
  • Japan’s Hayato Tsutsumi knocked out Britain’s Qais Ashfaq early in the third round.
  • Britain’s Nick Ball retained his WBA featherweight title after defeating Australia’s Sam Goodman in a bout that went the full 12 rounds.

The Esports World Cup competitions are being held in Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, with more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs representing countries from around the world, and prize money reaching $70 million, in an atmosphere combining digital entertainment with world-class sporting events.