Moses Itauma earned a career-best payout of approximately $1.5m after his devastating knockout victory over Dillian Whyte in Riyadh on Saturday night.

The 20-year-old British-Nigerian fighter’s guaranteed purse of $1m could rise to $1.5 million with bonuses, following his emphatic first-round stoppage of the veteran heavyweight at the ANB Arena.

Whyte reportedly earned around $2.7m for the bout, despite suffering his second knockout defeat in recent years when Itauma floored him with a thundering right hand after just 119 seconds.

Industry sources suggest both fighters received flat fees from Riyadh Season, with potential win bonuses but no backend upside from pay-per-view revenue.

The victory represents far more than just a financial windfall for Itauma, who extended his perfect professional record to 13 wins with 11 knockouts. The win validates his rapid rise through the heavyweight ranks and positions him for title conversations within the next 12 months.

“What is next? I will fight anyone they put in front of me,” Itauma told DAZN after the statement performance.

With Oleksandr Usyk’s schedule potentially forcing a WBO vacancy, Itauma is now in a prime position for title shots, with Joseph Parker openly mentioned as a potential opponent.

For Whyte, 37, the defeat raises questions about his future in the sport. Despite arriving in the best shape of his career, he could not match Itauma’s explosive power and precision, leaving him facing a colder market for future big-money fights.

Promoter Frank Warren praised Itauma’s maturity beyond his years.

“How he did it, his temperament, control and composure – he fights better than guys at their peak and he is 20 years of age,” Warren told BBC Radio 5 Live.

The Slovakia-born fighter has been carefully managed through his professional career and is unlikely to be rushed into fights beyond his means, despite his growing confidence.