Dillian Whyte could fight twice in 2020 says Eddie Hearn

By Boxing News - 07/28/2020 - Comments

By Charles Brun: Dillian Whyte could be fighting twice this year if he beats Alexander Povetkin on August 22, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

Although Hearn would prefer that Whyte (27-1, 18 K.O.s) wait until February of next year before fighting again, he may slip one more fight in before the end of 2020.

Whyte is expected to challenge for the WBC heavyweight title by late 2021, be it against Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder. Those two will be fighting in December of this year in a trilogy match.

Whyte could fight for the vacant WBC title

What we don’t know is if the Fury-Wilder 3 winner will agree to fight Whyte or vacate the title and go straight to a match against IBF/WBA/WBO champion Anthony Joshua.

Vacating the WBC title would seem to be the most logical choice to make for the Fury-Wilder winner, as they can skip the risky fight against Whyte.

The U.S. boxing fans have no interest in seeing Fury or Wilder fight, Whyte. Like everyone else around the world, they want to see the Joshua vs. Fury match, and the titles are unimportant.

Fans already know that AJ and Fury are the top two heavyweights in the division, so it doesn’t matter if the WBC belt is on the line. It’s the best against the best, and it’s pointless for Fury or Deontay to take a needless fight against Whyte if they don’t have to.

If the WBC title is vacated, Whyte will finally get his wish to be fighting for the WBC belt. However, Dillian is likely to have sour grapes in that case because of his real goal all along was to fight Wilder or Fury for the belt.

Image: Dillian Whyte could fight twice in 2020 says Eddie Hearn

If the WBC title is vacated, Whyte will end up battling #3 Luis Ortiz or #4 Andy Ruiz Jr. Ortiz is the guy that Whyte choose NOT to fight when the World Boxing Council ordered them to compete in a WBC title eliminator in 2018.

Whyte chose instead to face Dereck Chisora, and then he complained later why he wasn’t made the mandatory. When you decide to bypass the WBC’s title eliminator, you’re setting yourself up for hardship.

Dillian could fight again later this year

“Just pressure the WBC, pressure Tyson Fury, and push ‘When’s that fight, when are you going to announce the Fury-Wilder fight? If not, please call the mandatory for Dillian Whyte,'” said Hearn to IFL TV about what he plans on doing if Whyte beats Povetkin on August 22.

YouTube video

“Listen, I wouldn’t rule out getting Dillian Whyte out again this year if he wants to get out and fight again. I’m not happy with him continuously taking high-level, high-risk fights when we’re so close to the mandatory date set by the WBC, and Povetkin is a considerable risk.

“But after this, it’s probably a case of waiting until that early February fight or whenever that is of Tyson Fury,” said Hearn.

With the money that Whyte is making from his Sky Box Office PPV fights in the U.K., it’s understandable why he would want to fight twice in 2020. Depending on who Whyte faces later this year, it could be easy money in the bank for him.

The problem is that Sky Box Office will want Dillan to fight a good opponent, and he’d be at risk of losing if it’s someone halfway decent. Whyte is famous in the U.K., but his talent doesn’t match his popularity. As it is, Whyte is taking a tremendous risk facing the 40-year-old Povetkin on August 22.

Whyte, 32, has a risky contest that he needs to get out of the way next month against Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 K.O.s) on August 22 at the Matchroom Fight Camp, in Brentwood, Essex, UK. Dillian vs. Povetkin will be shown on Sky Box Office PPV and DAZN.

Joshua-Fury will happen in the summer of 2021

“We know we have a deal in principle with Tyson Fury for two fights, but that could be the end of summer next year,” said Hearn on Anthony Joshua’s two-fight deal with Fury in 2021. “A.J.’s not going to fight until the end of November probably.

“So he’s [Joshua] not going to fight until June or July next year. So you’ve got that period where that mandatory is due, and we’ll be pushing to enforce that if Dillian Whyte can overcome Povetkin,” said Hearn.

Image: Dillian Whyte could fight twice in 2020 says Eddie Hearn

The million-dollar question is whether Wilder or Fury will want to bother with Whyte when they’re looking at a massive pot of gold they can get fighting Joshua in 2021.

For one, it’s going to be difficult for Fury (30-0-1, 21 K.O.s) or Wilder (42-1-1, 41 K.O.s) to get properly motivated to fight Whyte. Wilder and Fury are more talented than Dillian, but he’s still a significant threat t both of them if they’re not mentally focused on him.

Of course, Hearn is eager to have the Fury vs. Wilder III winner take on Whyte because he promotes him. Hearn won’t have to listen to Whyte bellyache about not getting his title shot if Fury or Wilder faces him next February.

It’s all suitable for Hearn because he promotes Dillian, and it potentially sets up an all Matchroom fight if Whyte defeats the Fury-Wilder III winner. Hearn would be in complete control of the Joshua vs. Whyte 2 fight, and it would make his company Matchroom a lot of money.

Joshua Whyte II wouldn’t interest the American boxing fans nearly as much as if Fury or Wilder were the ones that wound up fighting Joshua.

Hearn to push WBC to force Whyte’s title shot

“The best thing in this situation is, to be honest, and I think Dillian Whyte should be getting his shot in the time period that’s been promised by the WBC, and that’s going to be before Anthony Joshua,” said Hearn.

Image: Dillian Whyte could fight twice in 2020 says Eddie Hearn

“So I can’t be more honest than that. Listen, as much as many people want to see Dillian get his shot; many people want to see the final fight between Tyson Fury against A.J.

“But even A.J. feels that Dillian should get his shot as well for a world title. So for me, I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure the WBC keeps their promises,” said Hearn.

It would be interesting if the WBC lets the Fury vs. Deonty winner to bypass Whyte and go straight into the Joshua match. The boxing fans wouldn’t complain if the WBC allows that to happen, but Whyte and Hearn would be unhappy campers.