WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury: Dillian Whyte is not an avoided fighter

WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has rubbished claims that Dillian Whyte has been an avoided fighter.

Brixton’s Whyte is set to clash with his rival in either March or April after Queensberry Promotions won the purse bid for their bout.

The South Londoner has kept silent since the showdown was announced.

Fury told the The Unibet Lowdown: “I’m going to knock him out – it’s going to be the right hand that does it. It will be a good fight while it lasts.

“He’ll come forward, he’ll be game and he’ll swing away with some big swings and miss them. I’ll detonate a big right hand and knock him out cold.”

Whyte and his promoter Eddie Hearn have both stated on numerous occasions that he has been deprived of a crack at the division’s leading boxers.

But Fury responded: “I don’t believe he’s been avoided. Don’t be daft [about Deontay Wilder not being keen] – he would put his fist through the back of Dillian Whyte’s face.

“Dave Allen fought him and he only had about eight fights under his belt. He didn’t do anything with Dave – he tried to outbox Dave because he couldn’t manhandle him. Dereck Chisora didn’t avoid him. Who avoided him? He was offered the shot at Joshua, the rematch. He was offered a shot at Andy Ruiz and Luis Ortiz and turned that down. He even didn’t want to fight Otto Wallin – if anything he avoids everyone else.”

Fury also rated Whyte as the sixth toughest opponent of his career.

“I would probably look at Wilder, then Klitchko, then Dereck Chisora, then probably Otto Wallin and then Steve Cunningham,” said Fury.

Asked about Whyte not engaging with Fury since the purse bid was announced, the latter replied: “I have no clue [why] and I don’t care. It’s his business – not mine. It’s their game plan and it’s their fight to lose.

“He has done in the past [sent messages to Fury] before this fight was being signed. Now it is on his toes he doesn’t fancy it.”

Fury had been in negotiations over a meeting with Oleksandr Usyk that would have been to unify the major titles in the division. But a complicated agreement – with Anthony Joshua and Whyte both set to be in line for stepaside money – could not be agreed.

“I’m not disappointed [that Usyk isn’t happening],” said Fury. “I’ve got to take care of my mandatory anyway. You’ve got to big Brits on a show and we get to do it in the UK, giving the fans what they want – a massive, massive fight.”