By Charles Brun: Ricky Hatton wants to see interim WBC heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte challenge WBC champ Tyson Fury next rather than Deontay Wilder. Hatton says he feels sorry for Whyte (27-1, 18 K.O.s) because he’s been waiting so long for his shot at a world title, and he still hasn’t gotten the opportunity.
Wilder (42-1-1, 41 K.O.s) has a rematch clause in his contract from his last fight against Fury, which he lost last February. It’s not impossible to get Wilder to step aside, but it’s going to cost a pretty penny to get him to do so. Moreover, the boxing world doesn’t want to see Fury (30-0-1, 21 K.O.s) fight Whyte.
If they’re going to pay Wilder to step aside, it’s going to be for Fury to face IBF/WBA/WBO champion Joshua (23-1, 21 K.O.s). Whyte has fans in the U.K., but he’s not a star in the U.S. or elsewhere around the world. As such, Hatton’s view about wanting Whyte to get the Fury fight is an isolated opinion that the fans don’t share.
If Wilder is paid step aside money, it’s so that fans can see Fury fight Joshua, NOT Dillian Whyte. There’s no demand at all for a Fury vs. Whyte fight. Unfortunately for Hatton, a lot of fans see Whyte as Dereck Chisora 2.0. They see Whyte as a slightly bigger version of Chisora, who Fury already TWICE beat with ease in the past.
Wilder won’t step aside
“Deontay won’t want to step away from that fight if he has a clause in his contract and who can blame him,” said Hatton to IFL TV on Wilder, not likely to step aside for Fury vs. Joshua. “I think the Joshua fight and Fury fight should make enough money.
“You can pay him to step aside money. What a better way to create a wedge than Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury. I hope that fight comes off. Sometimes when it’s rival promoters and rival networks, sometimes things can’t be done. Everyone has got to bs sensible.
“There’s a big pot there for everyone. If they do that, there should be a little bit of step aside money to get Deontay to step aside. I’m a little bit gutted and frustrated about Dillian Whyte. Surely, Dillian Whyte must be in line to fight Wilder. He’s paid his dues and got himself there,” said Hatton.
Wilder would probably step aside so that Fury can face Joshua, but it would be costly. Just how much Wilder will want for him to step aside is unknown. Given how badly Wilder wants the trilogy fight with Fury, he’d probably want a considerable amount of money for him to step aside.
It wouldn’t be worth it for Fury and Joshua to sacrifice the step aside money for Wilder, given that their fight might not bring in massive revenue. Before the global pandemic, Joshua vs. Fury would have been a huge moneymaker. But with boxing fans not working because of the lockdown, the Joshua-Fury fight probably won’t make huge money if it takes place in 2021.
Whyte deserves Fury fight
“No disrespect to Deontay, but I’d rather see Dillian Whyte fight Tyson than Tyson fighting Deontay again,” said Hatton. “I can only fancy seeing another win for Tyson, just like the last time for Tyson. And I cant see it being and different, and no disrespect to Deontay.
“I felt he won the first fight, Tyson, but he didn’t get the decision. He most definitely won the second fight, who wants to see that [Fury vs. Wilder 3] again? I’d much rather see Dillian Whyte against Tyson. I said it right, he deserves it, and he’s paid his dues.
“He [Whyte] beat my fighter at the time Lucas Browne in brilliant fashion in a great win. I feel sorry for him [Whyte]. He’s not kicked on from there, you know? He’s [Whyte] got a good team behind him with Eddie [Hearn], Sky, and anything that goes with that,” said Hatton.
Whyte is going to get a title shot at Fury in 2021. He just has to wait a little while longer, and he’ll get his chance. Hatton might not know it, but Whyte had the opportunity to fight Luis Ortiz in a WBC ordered title eliminator in 2018. If Whyte had taken that fight instead of facing Chisora, he would have gotten his title shot by now.
Whyte chose the better payday against Chisora, but ultimately that move hurt him because if he’d faced Ortiz in 2018, he’d have gotten his title shot against former WBC champion Wilder in 2019. Whose fault is it that Whyte chose NOT to face Luis Ortiz after the WBC ordered the two to fight in a title eliminator in 2018?
Hatton: I feel sorry for Whyte
“I know it’s hard to make fights sometimes, but I just feel sorry for him.,” said Hatton on Whyte. “He deserves his shot now, but hopefully, the good things come to those who wait. When he does come up for it, he’ll grab it with both hands.
“I think it’s also a shame that Tyson after that great win hasn’t been able to kick on, has he? Joshua, after his excellent win over Ruiz, and Tyson with his superb win over Wilder, and Dillian Whyte is another one. The heavyweight division for the Brits at the minute is the best it’s ever been.
“So many great fights have been put on a standstill, but hopefully, it’ll get lifted. So many fights that we’re looking forward to. I bet Anthony, Dillian, and Tyson are banging their heads against the wall because there are so many great fights not only for them but for all British fight fans,” said Hatton.
There’s no reason for Hatton to feel sorry for Whyte. He’s going to get his title shot in 2021, as long as he doesn’t lose his next fight against Alexander Povetkin. Whyte fought Chisora in 2018, and that was a good payday.
Last year, Whyte could have fought Joshua in a rematch, but he failed to accept the offer. Instead of Whyte taking the fight against AJ, Andy Ruiz Jr. did, and he made history in stopping Joshua in the 7th round.
