FOLLOWING Dillian Whyte’s impressive sixth-round knockout of Australia’s Lucas Browne at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, promoter Eddie Hearn talked up the possibility of the Londoner facing America’s WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in his next bout.
“Tonight was Dillian’s breakout night. It couldn’t have gone more perfectly. This was his big chance on US TV [HBO televised the fight in America], and he scored a highlight-reel knockout,” said Hearn.
“All Wilder’s doing is waiting on [WBA and IBF titlist] Anthony Joshua. He doesn’t have to do that. He can fight Dillian here [in the UK] for a career-high payday. Dillian versus Wilder over here – that’d be a monster.”
As well as trumpeting Wilder as a potential opponent for Whyte, Hearn also interestingly mentioned the name of one of the division’s biggest – yet currently inactive – stars.
“Can you imagine Dillian Whyte versus Tyson Fury? That’d be a massive fight,” the Matchroom Boxing boss enthused.
Like Hearn, Whyte himself was extremely pleased with his performance against Browne, and felt that he had proved his doubters wrong.
“A lot of people underestimate me at world class. Let’s see who underestimates me now,” Whyte stated defiantly. “I’ve always believed I was at this level. It’s been a hard road. I had major shoulder surgery [after losing to Joshua in December 2015], but my left hook is back now.
“I’m more mature now, more level-headed. I’ve got the mental approach that I can go out there and box, and just wait for the knockout to come. I was very patient – picking my punches. I knew it was just a matter of time. [Browne] gets cut in every fight so, for him, cuts are nothing. I knew the key was to keep jabbing him.
“He’s a big, tough guy. He outweighed me by 10lbs, so I knew it was going to be hard in there. He’s an experienced guy – an old campaigner. I knew he was just looking for that one big punch.”
