Asked whether Itauma would beat Usyk based on what he saw against Verhoeven, Whyte did not hesitate.

“[Based] on that performance last weekend, yeah, [Itauma would beat Usyk],” said Whyte to iFL TV.

The opinion carries extra weight because Whyte shared the ring with Itauma less than a year ago. Their August clash ended almost immediately, with Itauma stopping the veteran in the opening round.

Since then, the 21-year-old contender has continued his rise through the heavyweight division. Itauma followed up the Whyte victory with a stoppage win over Jermaine Franklin in March and has moved into the No. 1 position with both the WBO and WBA.

Usyk, meanwhile, is 39 years old and coming off a performance that sparked debate about how much he has left. The Ukrainian later revealed that his daughter had contacted him from a bomb shelter in Ukraine before the fight, something that may have affected his preparation and focus.

Whyte believes the version of Usyk that appeared against Verhoeven would struggle against one of the division’s fastest-rising heavyweights.

“[Based] on that performance last weekend, yeah, [Itauma would beat Usyk],” said Dillian.

A fight between Usyk and Itauma has not been announced, but Whyte’s comments reflect a growing belief among some observers that the unbeaten British contender could be ready for the division’s biggest names.