Dillian Whyte rubbishes suggestion that big paydays have dulled his desire ahead of Anthony Joshua rematch
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Dillian Whyte has rubbished any suggestion the money he has made in his career has taken away some of his edge ahead of next month’s rematch with Anthony Joshua.
Brixton’s Whyte, 36, earned nearly £6million in his 2022 defeat to WBC world champion Tyson Fury.
The South Londoner (29-3, 19KOs) has also had a succession of headlining pay-per-view shows on Matchroom Boxing shows.
Tickets for his August 12 clash against Joshua at Greenwich’s 02 Arena sold out in just two hours.
Whyte has a win over Joshua in the amateur ranks and also wobbled the Watford puncher (25-3, 22KOs) in their 2015 meeting in the pros.
But Whyte was knocked down by a right uppercut prior to being stopped in the seventh round at the same venue that stages the rematch.
Joshua has gone on to twice be a unified world champion but is beltless after losing his IBF, WBA and WBO titles to Oleksandr Usyk.
Whyte described questions over whether his own hunger had been diminished as “stupid”. He added: “It doesn’t matter how long a lion has been in the zoo – put your hand in his cage and he’ll still bite your arm off.
“There is a lot of aggression and rage inside me but I try and be cool.
“I’m still the dog, maybe a bit longer in the tooth, but I’ve still got a hell of a bite.”
Matchroom supremo Eddie Hearn felt the fight would not take place as negotiations initially failed to reach a resolution.
Joshua, 33, then agreed to remove a rematch clause that would have activated if Whyte prevails. The Olympic gold medallist is being lined up for a lucrative meeting with Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia at the end of this year.
“I think they were hoping I wasn’t training and it would only give me four or five weeks’ notice,” said Whyte. “I know I’m being undersold. But I want the opportunity and chance to avenge my defeat. I also want to beat AJ up.
“They know my value and what I bring. AJ isn’t that much bigger (in profile) than me.
“We try and take it one fight at a time. I feel good, my body is not aching. I started boxing late and I’m not that beat up, I’ve taken a few beatings but I’m not too bad.
“My goal is to avenge my two defeats (to Fury and Joshua) and become world champion.”
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