Dillian Whyte vs. Jermaine Franklin being negotiated for Aug.28th

By Boxing News - 07/05/2021 - Comments

By Allan Fox: Eddie Hearn confirmed on Monday that WBC interim heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte’s next fight will be August 28th in the United States likely against American Jermaine Franklin.

Hearn is negotiating with promoter Dimitry Salita to make the Whyte vs. Franklin fight.

This will be the first of two fights for Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) in the U.S this year, with the second one coming in October or November against Charles Martin or Chris Arreola.

Hearn likes both of those fights, particularly the Martin one. However, that doesn’t mean it’ll happen.

The way Hearn is talking, they won’t take any chances of Dillian losing again and spoiling his opportunity to use his WBC mandatory status to challenge for a world title in 2022.

With that said, the 6’5″ southpaw Martin (28-2-1, 25 KOs) might be too risky for Whyte because he’s a guy at the same level as him talent-wise. Martin might have a little more power in his shots than Whyte.

For that reason, it’s likely that 40-year-old Arreola (38-7-1, 33 KOs) will be Whyte’s opponent for October or November rather than Martin.

Whyte vs. Franklin negotiations underway

“I seen it, loving it,” said Eddie Hearn to Boxing Social on Charles Martin calling out Whyte. “I think it’s almost certain to be in America,” Hearn said about the location for Dillian’s next fight.

Image: Dillian Whyte vs. Jermaine Franklin being negotiated for Aug.28th

August 28th is the rumored date. Yes, Jermaine Franklin, we’re having discussions with [promoter] Dimitry Salita. He’s 19-0, 20-0.

“Charles Martin put a message into Luis DeCubas earlier saying we should look at his fight as well.

“Chris Arreola is another name that has been mentioned. Right now, Dillian is in that six-month position where he’s not treading water, but he’s waiting for these belts to flush out. So we’ve got to stay active,” Hearn said.

You can understand why Hearn doesn’t want to put Whyte in with a dangerous heavyweight like Charles Martin, Filip Hrgovic, Luis Ortiz, or Michael Hunter.

Whyte isn’t someone you can guarantee will each time out, and it would be too risky to put him in with a good contender.

Hence, Hearn has found Jermaine Franklin for Whyte to fight on August 28th in a non-risky gimme type of clash.

There’s virtually no chance of Whyte losing to Franklin, who struggled against journeyman Jerry Forrest recently. The same applies to Whyte’s fight in October or November. Hearn will play it safe and likely match Whyte against Arreola rather than Martin.

Hearn wants Dillian to make a name in the U.S

“The idea of him fighting in America is a great idea because he’s boxed in the UK consistently for a long time, and he’s done a huge amount of pay-per-views,” said Hearn about Dillian.

Image: Dillian Whyte vs. Jermaine Franklin being negotiated for Aug.28th

“He put in some great performances. He had a defeat against Povetkin and came back with a great victory.

“I think it’s time for him to make a name in America in a short window, and I think that can be with one or two fights.

“I love the Charles Martin fight. Whether that’s in August or if it comes in October or November, we can do a Jermaine Franklin in August and then a Charles Martin or Arreola towards the end of the year.

“But I really feel like Dillian should have those two fights in America. I think that would be great for his career.

“That’s the plan that we’ve got, and I think it’s a great strategy. Perhaps by the end of this week, we’ll be in a position to announce that. Yeah,” said Hearn when asked if Whyte’s next fight will be on DAZN in the UK as well.

It’s not as easy as Hearn thinks it is for a fighter to make a name for themselves in the U.S. In theory, Whyte could make a name for himself, but he’s not going to do that by fighting Jermaine Franklin and Arreola.

Those aren’t good enough heavyweights for Whyte to make a name for himself in the U.S.

To get the attention of American boxing fans, Hearn will need to put Whyte in with Luis Ortiz, Hrgovic, or Hunter and hope he doesn’t get beaten. Obviously, Hearn isn’t going to let Whyte anywhere near Hrgovic, Hunter, or Luis Ortiz.

He’s going to make sure Dillian is put in against someone that is half-stunned, and hope he doesn’t get knocked out again.

Watching Whyte struggle against 40-year-old Mariusz Wach and then getting knocked out by 40-year-old Alexander Povetkin, he’s too flawed to be put in with Ortiz, Hunter, or Hrgovic.