LAST year was a particularly trying one for Dillian Whyte. After defeating the previously unbeaten Oscar Rivas in July, a dark cloud soon cast a gloomy shadow over this triumph. Just four days following the victory, a report surfaced stating that the Brixton heavyweight had failed a UKAD (UK Anti-Doping) test in the lead-up to the bout. It emerged that, at a hearing on the day of the fight, an independent panel had cleared Whyte to take part in the contest, though Rivas and his team had no knowledge of either the hearing or the failed test.
After, in his own words, โwalking around like a zombieโ for over four months, Whyte received the news he had been hoping for in early December. UKAD released a statement declaring that they had withdrawn their charge and cleared the Jamaica-born Londoner of any wrongdoing. They announced that the โtrace amountsโ of steroid metabolites contained in Whyteโs sample were โconsistent with an isolated contamination eventโ and were โnot suggestive of doping.โ
While this investigation had been in progress, the long-time WBC No. 1 challenger had had his mandatory status provisionally suspended by the sanctioning body. However, following UKADโs withdrawal of the charge, Whyteโs position was re-instated by the WBC. He concluded a taxing 2019 with a win over veteran Mariusz Wach.
Having been promised a shot at the WBC title by February 2021 at the latest, Whyte โ who is closing in on 1,000 days as the organisationโs No. 1 contender โ did not take kindly to last monthโs news that WBC champion Tyson Fury had agreed a financial deal in principle for two fights with fellow world titlist Anthony Joshua next year. With Fury also having to fit in a third clash with former belt-holder Deontay Wilder before any bouts with Joshua could occur, this raised yet more questions about Whyteโs mandated challenge for the championship and when it will finally take place. In reaction to this, Whyte decided to take legal action against the WBC, which is currently ongoing.
Speaking to the media on a Zoom call from his lockdown training base in Portugal, Whyte opened up on his situation with the WBC and looked ahead to his crucial 12-rounder with Alexander Povetkin, whom he meets behind closed doors at the Matchroom Fight Camp in Brentwood on August 22.
NB This interview was conducted prior to Whyte revealing that he had amicably parted ways with his trainer, Mark Tibbs.
How did you feel when you heard about Fury and Joshua agreeing financial terms on a two-fight deal for 2021?
I was enraged. Itโs frustrating because Iโve done everything thatโs been asked of me by the WBC and more. Iโve been committed to them and paid years of sanctioning fees. Iโve won the WBC International Silver title, the International title, the Silver title and the Interim title. Iโve waited a long time [for a WBC title shot]. I was like, โTheyโre taking the piss. This is 100 steps too far, let alone one step.โ I got on the phone to [promoter] Eddie Hearn straightaway. My guys got on the phone to the WBC. The belt canโt go from one coward [in Wilder] to another coward [in Fury]. Something needs to change. Enough is enough. I knew I needed to do something about it.Itโs been a long, hard, rocky road, but itโs made the story even better I guess. Now, when I win the title, itโll make it even sweeter.
Do you expect to get your WBC title shot by February 2021?
Thatโs what [WBC President] Mauricio Sulaiman is saying. Heโs saying that Iโm the mandatory challenger and I must get my fight by then, so letโs see. You never know in this game, but thatโs the plan and thatโs the hope. My team is still sorting out the nitty-gritty of whatever is going on.
Is there any sum of money that would make you step aside in February?
Nah, Iโve waited long enough. Iโm 32 โ Iโm not getting any younger. I donโt just want to be a world champion and thatโs it. I want to be a world champion and reign and unify. The sooner I win the title, the sooner I can get started on doing that. I donโt want to be one of those guys like Charles Martin who wins the title and then loses it in his next fight. Iโm not looking to step aside at all.
Do you think that Hearn has done everything that he can to get you your title shot?
I donโt know. The problem is, heโs got me and heโs got Joshua, whoโs the golden boy at the minute. He has to try to keep Joshua happy and he has to make out that heโs doing the right thing for me. Heโs got a world champion and a No. 1 contender to keep happy. Itโs been hard because he has to tell Joshua, โIโm trying to make the fightโ and he has to tell me, โIโm trying to make the fight.โ Then actively who is he trying to make the fight for? Iโve come close to leaving Eddie at times. Itโs no secret that Iโm the kind of guy that, when Iโm not happy with something, especially something that Iโve worked for, then Iโll try to change it. Thatโs common knowledge.
Do you have any regrets about turning down a rematch with Joshua last year, who is the only man to beat you?
Well, that fight was never serious. There was never any serious offer. Listen, as Iโve said to Eddie, Iโll fight Joshua โ put the purse in the middle, the winner takes all. In the fights where Iโve had no issues, just full and proper training camps, Iโve put these guys to sleep. Against Joshua, I knew what punch I had to land, but unfortunately when I landed it I shattered my shoulder. If I fight him again fully healthy, with a good training camp, I believe Iโll stop him. As was shown when he fought Andy Ruiz the first time, if you hit him and youโre relentless, he gets stopped.
Povetkin is coming up to 41 years old. Do you think you are facing him at a good time?
I think that this is a very dangerous time to fight him because there comes a time in a manโs career when he knows, โI need to look good here tonight, otherwise thatโs it.โ Itโs always hard fighting guys like that. He knows whatโs at stake. Heโs been around long enough. He knows that if he beats me, heโll get a major payday and a world title shot. So itโs probably going to be the best Povetkin weโve seen. Iโd say heโs the most seasoned guy Iโve fought, especially with his amateur pedigree. Heโs tough and strong, with very good punching power. Weโve got similar styles. Weโre both big hookers and weโre both front-foot fighters. Heโs still got ambition and heโs still got a lot left in the tank.
In the heavyweights, one punch to the side of your head can send you spinning like a wheel, so I donโt take any fight lightly. I train hard. A lot of people are judging me on my last fight against Wach, but that fight was what it was. I still won convincingly, even though I was out of shape and my head was in a completely different space. I know how dangerous Povetkin is. For well over 10 years heโs been consistently operating at a high level, beating top pros. But when I train right and I come prepared, I donโt fear anyone.
What has it been like training in Portugal during lockdown?
The nice weather has definitely helped โ being locked down somewhere hot! Iโve been training at a private gym. Lockdown couldnโt have been any better for me, to be honest. Iโve been able to work, chip away and stay motivated and stimulated. Put it this way, Iโm a lot leaner now than I was in Saudi Arabia [against Wach], and thereโs still a few weeks until the fight. Stress affects people in one of two ways. You either lose weight or you put on weight. That weight was just stress.
Iโve got my team here with me. Three of the guys are medical professionals. Weโre taking precautions. Iโve been having to spar with the guys I came over with โ middleweights and light-heavyweights โ because weโve not been able to bring anyone else over. The guys that I came here with are the same guys that Iโll still be with until things have calmed down. Then Iโll be able to bring some heavier guys in. Weโve got protocols in place. Iโm doing the best that I can do to be safe. Weโve had the local police come down to check everything over at the gym โ making sure everyoneโs alright and everyoneโs doing what theyโre supposed to be doing. We have to sign in and all that kind of stuff. Iโve had to do all of the bloods and all of the swabs to make sure that we have everything covered. My guys are professional.
How do you feel about fighting Povetkin without any fans in attendance?
Itโs obviously going to be strange because weโre used to the big events. Itโs going to take some getting used to, but it is what it is. Iโm an adaptable kind of guy.These are testing times, so as human beings, we need to adapt. We canโt just stop and sit around. Yes, thereโs a pandemic going on, but safety procedures have been put in place so that we can still go to work in a safe and healthy environment. We have to adapt. As humans, thatโs what weโve been doing for hundreds of thousands of years. When thereโs a heatwave, we adapt. When thereโs a cold spell, we adapt. When thereโs Spanish flu, we adapt. When thereโs a plague, we adapt. Now thereโs COVID, we have to adapt. Thatโs one of the strengths of the human race โ weโre very adaptable and weโre able to survive.
Boxing as a sport has also had to change and adapt over the years. For example, fighters used to fight over 20 rounds and even more. Then it was 15 rounds, now itโs 12 rounds. We adapt, and thatโs what we have to do now as boxers. We canโt just say, โIโll wait until the crowds can come back.โ No, get on with it. Iโd happily have another fight behind closed doors after Povetkin. By doing my job I can give others inspiration and something to look forward to. Boxing is a big thing for people. They meet up with their family, have a couple of beers and watch the fights. We all have to play our part in this.