Dillian Whyte returned to the ring last week in Gibraltar with a low key stoppage win to get the ball rolling again.
Whyte got the win and will obviously train harder for his next fight if he chooses to stay involved near the top level of the sport.
He, like every other heavyweight in boxing, will be watching the big one this weekend in the Usyk vs Fury rematch.
Speaking to Talk Sport Whyte said of it:
“Interviewer: Well, listen, it’s lovely to have you on our show. In a moment, we’ll look ahead to the massive fight this weekend—Usyk against Fury, the rematch, of course. But first, tell us a bit about your fight from the weekend for those who haven’t seen it. I know it was a decent fight for you, and it all wrapped up at the end of the seventh round. What kind of test was it for you?
Dillian Whyte: It was more of a mental test, really. I’ve been out of the ring for quite a while, and I needed to come back and get some rounds under my belt. The guy was tough—he took a lot of shots and just kept fighting back. He kept swinging away, almost like a zombie. He’d get hurt, then just come back swinging. It was good because he didn’t lie down after one or two rounds, and I was happy with that.
Interviewer: What were you hoping for from this fight? Because you’re right—it was a slugfest. Both of you were going at it, back and forth. Was the fight exactly what you needed, considering your aspirations of getting back into the heavyweight scene among the best?
Dillian Whyte: Yes, it was exactly what I needed. He gave me rounds, and I’ve been inactive for a while. I’m not getting any younger, so I needed to test myself to see if I still have that dog in me—to dig deep, take a shot, and come back swinging. It was a good opportunity to fire in the heat of battle, catch counters, and return shots. This is a step-by-step process for me, and I’m answering those little questions I have about myself. I know I still have it; my team believes I still have it. It’s about answering those mental questions in the ring—like, “Okay, I got hit there. Did it affect me? Did I come straight back, or was there a delay?” It was good.
Interviewer: What’s next for you next year, Dillian? Where do you want to be, and how many fights do you want?
Dillian Whyte: I’d love to fight three or four times if I can. I’d love to fight again in February because inactivity has killed me. Over the last three or four years, I don’t think I’ve fought twice in one year. It’s been crazy. I fought Fury, then Jermaine Franklin, then Christian Hammer, and now this last guy. I need to stay active because inactivity has really hurt me. I want the big names, but if they’re not there, I just want to stay busy and fight the next available contender.
Interviewer: Who’s promoting you at the moment?
Dillian Whyte: I’ve always sort of managed myself. I work with whatever promotional entity is available at the time. I’ve always stayed neutral so I can go wherever the biggest fights are, and that’s how it’s always been.
Interviewer: Does not being affiliated with someone like Frank Warren or Eddie Hearn make it more difficult for you?
Dillian Whyte: Probably, yeah.
Interviewer: Is there a specific name you want to fight? When you look at the top of the heavyweight division, there are a lot of big names—AJ, Fury, Joseph Parker fighting Dubois—who do you want?
Dillian Whyte: I’d love to fight AJ again. I’d love that. I’d also love to fight Fury again, but I get it—these guys are all tied up in their little triangle. If one loses, he fights the other, and so on. I’ve been inactive, so I need to work my way back into a position at the table. If the big fights aren’t there, I’ll fight whichever contender is available. I just need to stay busy—that’s my goal.
Interviewer: Let’s talk about the fight this weekend—Usyk against Fury. It’s live on TalkSport. Everyone I speak to seems split on who they think will win, which surprises me. I personally think it’ll be the same result as last time—Usyk winning. But you know more about boxing than I do. How do you see it?
Dillian Whyte: Boxing fans are very fickle, so I can see why people are split. You can never underestimate someone like Fury, though. He’s come back from tough situations and had so many ups and downs. He’s a big, experienced guy. I believe Fury wasn’t at his best that night, and neither was Usyk. They can both make adjustments that could change the fight. If I were a betting man, I’d probably lean towards Usyk because of how he won the first fight. But I’d still have a cheeky bet on Fury, too, because of his history and his ability to make adjustments in rematches—like he did against Deontay Wilder and Steve Cunningham.
Interviewer: What does Fury need to do differently in this rematch? What did you see from the first fight that caused him to lose?
Dillian Whyte: He needs to be more physical. Fury’s the bigger, stronger man. He calls himself the “Gypsy King” and says he’ll fight anyone—well, take the fight to Usyk. Usyk is a smaller guy, a middleweight in Fury’s eyes. Fury needs to get physical, take the fight to him, and stop Usyk from settling into a rhythm. Once Usyk gets comfortable, he becomes very dangerous, and it’s hard to break his rhythm. Fury should fight him like he fought Wilder and Steve Cunningham. When Steve knocked Fury down, Fury got up, got physical, and bullied him. Fury needs to use those tactics from the start.
Interviewer: If Fury loses, do you think the interest will still be there for him to fight AJ? Especially since AJ’s loss to Dubois was so one-sided. Would it still be a massive fight?
Dillian Whyte: Absolutely. It’s still a massive fight. Fans should appreciate fighters who are willing to fight the best. We’ll never know who the best is unless everyone fights each other. People write fighters off after one loss, but these guys are testing themselves against top contenders. That’s why they lose sometimes. AJ could’ve fought lower-level opponents, but he went against Dubois and lost. Same with Fury—there’s no shame in losing to Usyk. He can still come back and be a top contender.
Interviewer: What about Daniel Dubois? He’s fighting Joseph Parker next. Do you think Dubois is a dominant force in the heavyweight division now?
Dillian Whyte: Dubois doesn’t get enough credit for what he’s done. Look at his run and the people he’s fought. He knocked out AJ, but no one talks about him. There should’ve been a parade for that! He’s still young, but there’s always a question with him: “Does he have it deep down? If he gets hurt, will he keep going?” That’s the big question.
Interviewer: Dillian, listen, thanks so much for coming on. If people are watching on YouTube, they’ll see you’re in your car. Where are you right now?
Dillian Whyte: I’m just sitting outside, waiting to do the call.
Interviewer: Very kind of you to do that. What are your plans for Christmas?
Dillian Whyte: I’ll spend time with my family, the kids, and my dogs. I’ve been away for a while, so I need to get the dogs back on their training routine. I’ll also be riding my dirt bikes.
Interviewer: What are your dogs’ names?
Dillian Whyte: Zeus, Hades, Titan, Roxy, Cobo, Sparky, and another Zeus.
Interviewer: How many dogs do you have?
Dillian Whyte: I’ve got about 15 altogether, but seven live with me.
Interviewer: Wow, do you let them in the house?
Dillian Whyte: They’re guard dogs, but they come inside sometimes. It’s good for them to be around the family so they know how to behave properly.
Interviewer: Dillian, we really appreciate you coming on. Have a safe journey back and a great Christmas and New Year. We’ll see you in 2025.
Dillian Whyte: God bless. Thanks, man.”
Very insightful on the Steve Cunningham and Wilder fights, the physical tactics from Fury have worked well in the past against lighter fighters.
Usyk is already thinking about going back to cruiserweight too, speaking ahead of Saturday, so he clearly is not that happy in the heavyweight division.
Something for Fury to think about surely.
