Whyte splits from trainer Tibbs
The Brixton heavyweight fights Alexander Povetkin on August 22 in the garden of promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing headquarters.
“I’m training in Portugal and Mark has a young family and his own new gym in the UK,” said Whyte, inset. “It means it just hasn’t worked out in the way we had both hoped.
“Mark came into my team four years ago and has helped turn me into the world-class boxer that I am today.
“Mark is a great trainer and I will always be grateful to him and his dad for all they have done.”
Yet Tibbs, speaking to Boxing Scene website, said: “I feel pretty upset about the lack of communication from Dillian and I feel very upset that over a month ago I sent him an email saying I should be in camp, because the date’s official, let’s get rolling and then a couple of days ago I got a letter from his lawyer, who’s a very nice man, Neil Sibley, saying Dillian no longer wants contact or my services.
“We didn’t have a falling out. He was a little upset when the date [for the Povetkin fight] changed and I said: ‘It’s not my fault or no-one’s fault – it’s the pandemic’.
“I wouldn’t want anyone to work with me if they don’t want to work with me – but they’ve got to come and tell me.
“He walked in West Ham Boxing Club four years ago, we sat down and had a chat [about Tibbs training him] and he sends a lawyer into me to part company. I don’t know what’s gone on but I wish him all the very best.”
PICTURE BY KEITH GILLARD