Dillian Whyte Prioritizes Activity Over Big Fights

Whyte targets multiple fights this year rather than waiting for top opponents

Dillian Whyte is no longer waiting for big fights and plans to stay active this year. The heavyweight says inactivity has held him back in recent years.

The 37-year-old heavyweight, knocked out in one round by Moses Itauma last August, said he is open to facing top names like Zhang. He also made it clear he is no longer waiting for the right comeback fight and instead wants to stay busy.

“All those guys. I want to fight them,” Whyte said, referencing Zhang among others. “But there’s no talks. No one’s been in contact.”

What he wants and what’s actually happening are two different things. He’s focused on staying active.

“I would love to fight three times this year,” Dillian said. “If not a comeback fight, then I’ll just go straight in again. I don’t care.”

He pointed to recent inactivity as a problem, describing long breaks between fights as something that stalled his run. It’s Whyte’s fault for not staying active, as he could have easily continued fighting instead of sitting on the sidelines after victories over the lower level fighters, Jermaine Franklin, Christian Hammer and Ebenezer Tetteh.

“The last few years I ain’t really fight. One hard fight, then six months, eight months, a year. That’s not good,” Whyte said.

The loss to Itauma has not changed his outlook. He treated it as part of the sport rather than a moment that required a careful rebuild.

“A loss to me is nothing. I’ve been losing my whole life, and I always come back,” Dillian said. “Got caught early and that’s it.”

Whyte looked feeble in that loss to Moses, hesitant and unwilling to throw before being stopped in the opening round. He remains popular in the UK, but knockout defeats to Itauma and Tyson Fury have reduced his position. The opponents tied to major paydays are not available to him right now.

Zhang, 42, remains a name he is willing to face, but there is no sign of movement toward that fight.

Whyte has already made significant money and is now chasing another payday against the best name he can realistically land. His mention of Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder makes that clear. Those are still known heavyweights, but not at the very top. The biggest names are out of reach, so he’s targeting opponents who still carry value without the same obstacles.