DILLIAN WHYTE wants a further fight before challenging Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wilder for a world heavyweight title.
On Saturday, at Londonโs O2 Arena, the 30-year-old produced his finest performance to secure his best win in outpointing Joseph Parker to perhaps prove he has become their leading contender.
His long-term rival Joshua next defends his IBF, WBA and WBO titles at Wembley Stadium against Russiaโs Alexander Povetkin on September 22 and is scheduled to fight there again in April.
It is still hoped that the WBC champion Wilder, of America, will be his next opponent but if he is not, Whyte will be the favourite to fight Joshua again. Their promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes the rematch has become โinevitableโ.
โWilder, Joshua, if I fight them two I need to wait until April,โ said Whyte, who knocked Parker down twice and also survived a dramatic knockdown in the final round that left him struggling to reach the final bell.
โLast time I tried to outbox [Joshua], but this time Iโd take the fight to him, lean on his chest, rough him up a bit, and look for the punches that I believe can hurt him. I know what punches heโs vulnerable to. Heโs a champ, heโs experienced; I got a win on a big show but heโs more experienced than me.
โWe need a fight in the meantime because Iโm still learning, thereโs still things I need to work on, I need to get a bit sharper, get my weight back down a little bit, but if Joshua wants it in April, he can have it.
โ[This was] one of the best nights [of my career], definitely. I fought someone very experienced; heโs a very, very tough, experienced operator. He was hungry โ he fell on his face and he got up. Heโd never been put down before.
โIt was a good punch. I got hurt, but I showed my experience; the last time I got hurt like that I thought โIโm going to fightโ and then I got hit for a finish; I started doing that and thought โIโll take a knee and get the countโ. I was buzzed.โ
One of the all time great nights..thanks to those who came to the O2 and those that tuned in โค๏ธ
โ Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) July 29, 2018
New Zealander Parker, 26, was considered a threat to Joshua while he reigned as WBO champion, but having lost his title in their unification fight in March has suffered successive defeats and is faced with rebuilding his reputation.
He was unfortunate Whyte was awarded a knockdown following a clash of heads in the second round, but said: โI didnโt execute the plan my coach [Kevin Barry] put in place. I take full responsibility for that and need to work on a few things; hopefully Iโll come back and fight here again.
โDillian roughed me up and did everything he could for victory, came in and looked for those big shots. Joshua fought a different fight, with distance, keeping me at bay with his jab.โ