Dillian Whyte gets Wach job as he is added to Joshua-Ruiz Jr show in Saudi Arabia
Dillian Whyte has been added to the undercard of the Anthony Joshua-Andy Ruiz Jr rematch in Saudi Arabia on December 7.
The 31-year-old Brixton heavyweight has not boxed since July – when he edged past Oscar Rivas on points at Greenwich’s 02 Arena – but will not be expected to face too many issue’s against Poland’s Mariusz Wach.
The 39-year-old has lost five of his 40 bouts – three of those inside the distance. He took Wladimir Klitschko to points in 2012 when the Ukrainian defended his multiple world titles. But since then he has been halted by Alexander Povetkin, Jarrell Miller and Martin Bakole.
Although on a two-bout winning streak, Wach was facing journeymen. Now he tests himself against one of the leading big men.
Joshua is looking to win back his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts after Ruiz stunned him in New York in June.
Whyte’s only loss on a 26-1 record was to Joshua when both were far more raw fighters in 2015.
“I’m delighted to be fighting in Saudi Arabia against Mariusz Wach. He’s probably got one of the best chins in the heavyweight division.
“I have been training and working hard to fight so it’s great to get a date and it’s very exciting for me to be fighting somewhere different like Saudi Arabia.
“I want to fight in different places and different settings and this card has the biggest heavyweight fight on it that we have seen in years.
“I’m just going to keep chasing the world titles, so if I keep winning then I hope to land that world title shot in 2020, that’s the plan for December 7.”
PICTURE BY KEITH GILLARD