BoxRec

Here is what the fighters and their teams had to say during the open workout:

Ben Davison, Moses Itauma’s trainer

What Dillian Whyte have you prepared for?

“We’d be foolish to take the fight based off his last performance and him coming in in the same shape. It was never going to happen. As he said, he’s had loads of things going on, lots of inactivity but he’s clearly gotten in shape. I’ve said this time and time again, Moses Itauma is not the type of fighter where we have to bank on catching people at the right time. He’s good enough to mix with any of them at any point. We’ve prepared for Dillian to turn up as the best Dillian possible and if we hadn’t had done so, it’s too late now.”

What problems does the best Dillian Whyte offer Moses Itauma?

“It’s his experience. He’s a big strong guy, plenty of heart, can punch, brings all of those things to the table. That doesn’t change no matter what condition he shows up in. People keep saying if it goes into a dog fight. I’ve seen Moses, the young man can fight up close as well and you’ve got to have that in the locker. If you’re going to mix it up at this level, you have to have that in the locker. So if the fight goes that way, I wouldn’t be shocked for it to still go how we expect.”

What is it like training Moses Itauma and how are you approaching his career?

“There’s nobody that I think “well he’s not ready for him,” but it’s risk versus reward. That fight might be just as tough as this fight, but that fight has got more reward to it…He is one of the hardest workers you’ll come across. In the gym, outside the gym, studying the sport, making sure he’s learning what we’re teaching him session after session. That’s the real talent.”

What have you seen from Moses Itauma in the gym that makes you believe he can dog it out if necessary on Saturday?

“My job is to have him prepared if the fight goes that way. It’s alright to say “oh we want it to go this way,” but we have to be prepared if things do not go according to plan. I’ve brought guys in and put him in situations where it’s supposed to get tough and he ends up backing them up. He ends up walking them down. He ends up battering them.”

What do you see next for Moses Itauma after Saturday?

“We’re solely focused on Saturday but what I have said already is that there is not a fighter where I go “I don’t like that.”

Does that apply to Oleksandr Usyk?

“I just think it’s a win-win. You’re getting the chance to face the best of a generation if not the best ever at the weight class. And as much as Moses hasn’t shared the ring with somebody like Usyk, I truly, honestly don’t think Usyk has shared the ring with someone like Moses.”

Paul Stevenson, Nick Ball’s trainer

Have you studied Sam Goodman?

“I’ve seen everything I can see, I always do. We’ve studied him in great detail as much as we could. What I see is a good fighter, well rounded, it will be a good match.”

Do you feel this will be a good test for Nick Ball?

“Obviously they’ll be trying, it’s very valuable. Nick is one of those fighters who can end the fight in the first round or he can end it in the 12th round. If this fella can live with what Nick’s dishing out, fair play to him.”

How do you feel about Goodman’s comments that he can run through Nick Ball?

“I’ve never seen that before. We’ve sparred Nick with middleweights and welterweights and I’ve never seen anyone do that before. So if he can do it, fair play to him.”

Joel Keegan, Sam Goodman’s trainer

How is Sam Goodman handling the extra weight he’s added for this new division?

“He’s loved it. Super bantamweight is a tough diet but yea, we’re loving the extra weight. He feels good, feels strong.”

How is the team feeling heading into this world title opportunity?

“We’re not here to play around. It’s this kid’s destiny. We thought we were going to do it nine months ago but we’re going to do it now.”

How can you get around the way Nick Ball uses his short height to his advantage?

“By doing what we’ve always done. We’ll be the bull and sometimes we’ll be the bullfighter. But we know how strong he is, we fully respect it. We’ve got the skills to deal with it. I think a lot of the questions are going to be what is Nick going to do with us.”

Do you agree with Sam’s strategy of going right through Ball?

“100%. I understand the way we fight might not look like we’re strong, but ask anybody that’s fought us. We have the ability to stand and trade with Nick”

Filip Hrgovic

How are you feeling going into this fight after having a full training camp?

“I feel much better. I had a better camp than I did last time (against Joe Joyce). I feel more confident and I can’t wait for Saturday.”

What kind of challenge is David Adeleye?

“Every fight is a challenge, every fight is a risk. Every fight is the most important fight in life and I did great preparation. I did everything that I do normally and I hope, with God’s help, I win on Saturday and continue towards becoming world champion.”

Abel Sanchez, Filip Hrgovic and Mohammed Alakel’s trainer

What kind of animal are we going to see from Hrgovic on Saturday?

“Definitely a lot better than we did the last time (against Joe Joyce). We got the win but we didn’t look as sharp as we should have. We had a full camp, we had eight weeks in Big Bear, so we’re really looking forward to Saturday night and showcasing this.”

How did your new charge, Mohammed Alakel, do in camp?

“Extremely well. He came to camp and luckily we have a good leader in camp with Filip, a lot of the kids follow his lead. He trained very hard. The discipline is above and beyond anything I expected. His dedication towards doing what we have to do is number 1. I look forward to a great career from him.”

Im pretty sure Moses smokes him within 3 rounds. The lad is a special talent and his biggest asset is his handspeed, Whytes biggest issue is his slowness. He is way past his peak. Its not going to end well for Dillian, I expect him to get up and take his medicine like a man, but the ref will save him from further punishment in the 2nd or 3rd.

rhino222 wrote: ↑14 Aug 2025, 07:56 Im pretty sure Moses smokes him within 3 rounds. The lad is a special talent and his biggest asset is his handspeed, Whytes biggest issue is his slowness. He is way past his peak. Its not going to end well for Dillian, I expect him to get up and take his medicine like a man, but the ref will save him from further punishment in the 2nd or 3rd.

Whyte is in top shape

Fancy Moses to win inside 6. Hand speed triumphs.

kojebee wrote: ↑14 Aug 2025, 08:44 Fancy Moses to win inside 6. Hand speed triumphs.

That's what they thought about chinny Khan....

Imagine if Moses gets beat by knockout - that’s what makes boxing, those sort of results, although I’m hoping it doesn’t happen, clearly.

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑14 Aug 2025, 12:58 Imagine if Moses gets beat by knockout - that’s what makes boxing, those sort of results, although I’m hoping it doesn’t happen, clearly.

He wouldn't be the first highly thought of Prospect that didn't pan out.

For every one that goes on to become the next big star in Boxing, there's dozens that become "Just another fighter"

Yeah, remember the heavily hyped David Haye coming unstuck against veteran Carl Thompson. Sometimes a prospect needs a fight like that to ground them and make them refocus on what is needed to get to the top.

Presser today

Ketchel wrote: ↑14 Aug 2025, 13:22 Yeah, remember the heavily hyped David Haye coming unstuck against veteran Carl Thompson. Sometimes a prospect needs a fight like that to ground them and make them refocus on what is needed to get to the top.

And up to this point we really have never seen Itauma face any kind of serious resistance so we really have no idea how he'll handle that kinda thing when it happens.

Below are the thoughts of fellow fighters, former champions, trainers and matchmakers on the Ford-Nova fight.

RUDY HERNANDEZ (TRAINER): “I think it’s a very interesting, even fight. I can’t see that fight not being a good one for the public. Both are talented and have fought good fighters. In a close fight, I think that Ray Ford pulls it out by decision.”

RONNIE SHIELDS (TRAINER): “Great fight, both guys are really good. I really like the way Nova fights. It’s going to be an all action fight. I see Nova winning on points.”

WAYNE MCCULLOUGH (FORMER WORLD CHAMPION/ TRAINER): “Nova is comfortable at mid-range, picking his shots patiently, but he’ll need to push the pace and force Ford into a fight to have any chance of pulling this off. Ford, a sharp southpaw with speed and precision, just needs to stay composed and use his fast hands to break Nova down to the head and body. If he sticks to that game plan, I think Ford either wins comfortably on points or gets a late stoppage.”

JIM KAMBOSOS (MANAGER): “Ford’s edge lies in timing, youth, activity and his southpaw stance. Nova brings size, power and veteran savviness. Ford is fresh, in form, and has settled in well at his new weight class. Nova, though, is always dangerous, has dipped in performance lately and is stepping in on short notice. I see Ford winning a clear decision – likely by unanimous decision or possibly late TKO.”

BOBBY BENTON (TRAINER): “This is an interesting fight. Nova is a hard guy to look good against. He’s awkward and physical. He knows how to survive. I think Ford will win.”

MARC RAMSAY (TRAINER): “Nova always provides an interesting challenge, but his couple latest fights indicate that he may have passed his prime. On the side of Ford, even in his defeat against Nick Ball, he impressed me, proving that he can continue to box very well even when he is under enormous pressure. Ford [by] unanimous decision.”

O’SHAQUIE FOSTER (WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION): “I got Nova knocking little buddy out in the fourth round.”

RYAN GARNER (JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER): “I can’t really go against Ford. I think he’s a real good fighter. I’m going to go with Ford potentially by late stoppage or unanimous decision."

BRAD GOODMAN (MATCHMAKER): “I like Ford a lot and if Nova is in top shape, he’ll have his moments. He’s fought top-level guys to make it interesting, but I just think Ford is a little too physical and being a lefty might cause Nova a problem. I think Ford might be able to stop him midway through the fight.”

RICH MAROTTA (COMMENTATOR): "I like the Ford-Nova fight, which I suspect will be a fan-friendly scrap with a high volume of punches. I love Raymond’s style. Highly skilled, high energy, terrific speed of hand and he has fought fine competition. Nova is a willing fighter, and he should not be taken lightly even though he is a substitute. He has an unusual, often awkward style which makes him a difficult adversary. Problem is, in some recent fights, he has fought just well enough to barely lose. I suspect that will be his fate again. Ford wins a close decision in a very competitive match.”

Ford 8-2 Nova

Ketchel wrote: ↑14 Aug 2025, 13:22 Yeah, remember the heavily hyped David Haye coming unstuck against veteran Carl Thompson. Sometimes a prospect needs a fight like that to ground them and make them refocus on what is needed to get to the top.

It's been years since Whyte has shown anything, Thompson was in good form before Haye. I can't see Whyte offering anything at all to test Itauma

I was at the David haye Thompson fight, the difference was haye had shown a lot of vulnerability before that: he’d been knocked bandy but come back to win against some journeyman as a pro, and knocked spark out in one round as a amateur. No warning signs for Moses so far

Yeah Thompson wasn’t just an old stubborn guy that night, he was a fit, dangerous athlete.

I’ll be sure to keep on looking for the upside re Whyte’s chances on Saturday, but ultimately Moses looks the business, and boxes in a way a lot of these big guys wish they could box.

IRONFIST wrote: ↑13 Aug 2025, 10:32 Itauma is another hypejob, put him in with Wardley rather than an over the hill Whyte.

What makes you say that? He looks brilliant, won evey amateur fight he had (I belive) the majority by KO, world champs have said he gave them hell in sparring when he was a child still st school and above all else he really seems to have his head screwed on.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑14 Aug 2025, 07:02

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑14 Aug 2025, 06:54 I’ve never really watched his interviews or listened to him.

Does he hype himself up as much as people do?

I just find him very nonchalant.

That's just his generation, they are all a bit "kevin the teenager"

Polls open, if anyone has a change of prediction..

I’m sticking with mine, Itauma by early stoppage, I think he will be way to fast for him. Whyte is on the slide, no matter how great he might look your reflexes don’t improve with age.

Whyte too easy to hit and Moses very quick handed

This fight won’t answer the unknowns about the quality of Itamas chin and stamina. Probably only find out when he challenges one of the top 5 for a world title

If Whyte can roll back the years and put in the kind of performance he did against AJ he can ask some serious questions but I just think Moses is a very special talent.

Whyte looks to be in career best shape

Never rated Whyte one bit and think Itauma could be a real talent. If he doesn’t deal with Whyte very easily il be shocked.

Is this the first 10 round PPV?

samwbr wrote: ↑15 Aug 2025, 07:53 Is this the first 10 round PPV?

This is 10 rounds???