IF Dominic Breazeale gets his way, his next fight will involve either WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder or top contender Dillian Whyte.

The American is Wilderโ€™s mandatory challenger, so next in line, but has also been linked in recent weeks to an interim WBC title fight against Dillian Whyte, another man ranked highly by the organisation.

โ€œOf course I want to fight for the world title, but, at the same time, I understand the fans want to see me and Dillian Whyte fight,โ€ Breazeale told Sky Sports. โ€œIโ€™m a fan-pleaser and Iโ€™m ready to fight.

โ€œMy preference would be Wilder, of course: world title shot. Itโ€™s everything Iโ€™ve been waiting for, for the last 15 months.โ€

The Wilder fight seemed out of Breazealeโ€™s reach when the Alabama native was negotiating a Tyson Fury rematch. However, with news of Furyโ€™s exclusive deal with ESPN, and the subsequent spanner that has thrown in the Wilder vs. Fury works, there is suddenly fresh optimism for Breazeale.

Asked about preparation time, Breazeale, 20-1 (18), added: โ€œAs long as they give me a good eight to 10 weeks before a fight to let me know who Iโ€™m going to fight, whether it be Dillian Whyte or Wilder, that will be ample time to prepare for an individual.

โ€œItโ€™s never an easy fight to make, if itโ€™s this status. Thereโ€™s a lot of politics still in the game. Who wants to fight where and when? How much is everybody getting paid? It makes for a difficult time.

โ€œAt the same time, I stay out of it. Al Haymon has done a great job of getting me this far. Heโ€™s only been good for me.

โ€œI see it being a smooth fight, but, at the same time, if you asked me that 15 months ago, I would have told you the same thing.

โ€œItโ€™s been a long, drawn-out process.โ€

Should he end up fighting Whyte, one senses Breazeale quite likes the idea of doing so on home territory.

โ€œI think itโ€™s time for Dillian Whyte to come to the US and make a splash in the US market,โ€ he said. โ€œIt would be great in Vegas, if he came over here. I think the UK fans love coming over to Vegas, enjoying some explosive fight nights, along with the US fans who travel from all over the country for a fight night.โ€

The last time Dominic Breazeale was seen in a British ring he succumbed to the power of Anthony Joshua inside seven rounds. Itโ€™s hardly surprising, therefore, he fancies dealing with Whyte on his patch this time around.


Katie Taylorโ€™s dream of unifying all four womenโ€™s lightweight titles could be realised in Madison Square Garden, New York of all places, but only if she adds the WBO title to her collection [Taylor currently holds WBA and IBF versions) on March 15 against Brazilโ€™s Rose Volante.

Should Taylor remain unbeaten in Philadelphia and become a three-time champion in the process, the hope is that she will then be able to secure a fight against WBC champion Delfine Persoon on June 1 in New York City.

A potential fight between Taylor and Persoon, a Belgian with a 42-1 (17) pro record, would help beef up the Anthony Joshua vs. Jarrell Miller undercard and ensure a few more Irish supporters are in the building that night. There is also talk of Sunderlandโ€™s Josh Kelly, 8-0 (6), appearing on the MSG show in a meaningful fight, BN understands.

โ€œKatie has to get through Volante first, but we want to try and have the undisputed fight for all four lightweight belts on the AJ card,โ€ Eddie Hearn, Taylorโ€™s promoter, told the Irish Examiner.

โ€œPersoonโ€™s team want the fight to happen in Belgium, where sheโ€™s from, but Iโ€™m saying as a compromise letโ€™s do it at Madison Square Garden.

โ€œYou used to be able to get an opponent like that for around $30,000 but now itโ€™s several hundred thousand instead.

โ€œBut Taylor against Persoon would be the perfect fight to put on this card and weโ€™re determined to make this happen.โ€

Before Taylor vs. Persoon can be green lit, either for NYC or Belgium, they must first keep their pieces of the lightweight pie intact. Taylor, 12-0 (5), must win next month in Philly and Persoon must come through a defence against American Melissa St. Vil on March 9th in Kortrijk, Belgium.

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