Dillion Whyte will return to the ring in ten days to face veteran Christian Hammer at TF Royal Hotel and Theatre in Castlebar, Ireland.
This is obviously an oddity for the 35-year-old Whyte (32-3, 19 KOs), but obviously isn’t going to be given a giant payday coming off a two-year layoff from the ring. Boxingscene is reporting the news of the Whyte vs. Hammer clash.
Last year, Whyte had been scheduled to face Anthony Joshua in a rematch in August 2023, but he tested positive for a banned substance. He was subsequently replaced by Robert Helenious, whom AJ destroyed.
Whyte has since been cleared after it was discovered that his positive test was the result of a contaminated supplement.
Whyte’s Road Back
With a net worth estimated at $7 million, Whyte has done quite well during his 13-year professional, and he’s now eager to get back in there. Dillian will need to get busy if he wants to cash in on the money the Saudis are throwing around right now.
Whyte will be turning 36 in April and has lost two out of his last three fights in defeats against Tyson Fury and Alexander Povetkin. Many boxing fans believe Whyte was given a hometown decision in his last fight against Jermaine Franklin in November 2022.
Dillian appeared to lose that contest, but the judges gave him an unpopular 12-round majority decision. If Whyte had lost that fight, his record would be 1-3, making it difficult for even promoter Eddie Hearn to resurrect him for money fights, as he’s done successfully with Anthony Joshua.
The good news is that age doesn’t seem to be a barrier for the Saudis. They’re willing to pay big money for even older fighters, as we’re seeing now with the 45-year-old Manny Pacquiao in negotiations to fight Conor Benn in Saudi Arabia.
Hammer, 36, has lost three out of his last four fights and last fought in July 2022, losing to Joe Joyce by a fourth-round knockout. The Romanian Hammer is at the jounryeman level now, and being used as an opponent for notable fighters to look good against.
It would be more interesting for fans to see Whyte face Joyce than Hammer, but his management would be crazy to take that risk. As bad as Joyce looked in his two knockout losses against Zhilei Zhiang, he’d likely feast on Whyte, who has never shown much talent during his career.
