The boxing season is at its peak now with many top fights lined up while many others are being muted. One boxer who is currently enjoying life in the ring is Dillian Whyte who knocked out Lucas Browne last month quite comfortably. With his eyes set on a title fight with Deontay Wilder, a fight expected to be up there with some of the best and already a huge hit with the media and various sportsbooks such as NetBet Sport, Dillian Whyte is still undecided on who he is going to fight in the final eliminator.
Two boxers: only one pick
The IBF stipulates that any title challenger needs a certain number of eliminator matches before he can be allowed to challenge for the title. In line with this regulation, Dillian Whyte needs one final eliminator match before it becomes his wish to challenge for the WBC title becomes a possibility. There are two names that have come up and Dillian has to choose one from the two names, the two names are Kubrat Pulev and Alexander Povetkin.
Eddie Hearn, Dillian Whyte’s promoter came out recently and stated that between the two fighters, Dillian had shown more interest in taking on Alexander Povetkin, therefore, he has opened talks with Alexander’s team about a potential fight in July. Though acknowledging that he has opened talks with Alexander’s team, Eddie Hearn also stated that there are many things happening behind closed doors and there are more fighters involved. The talk that more fighters are involved led some pundits this past week to suggest that a rematch against Anthony Joshua maybe on the cards.
Hearn went further to state that the WBC wants Dillian Whyte to face another boxer other than Alexander Povetkin. Rumours doing the rounds suggest that the WBC maybe standing on the same ground with the IBF which wants to see a Dillian Whyte vs Kubrat Pulev fight in July.
IBF’s preference to have Dillian Whyte face Kubrat Pulev in July has already been received warmly by the Kubrat team as Pulev’s promoter, Nisse Sauerland confirmed that his fighter is ready to take on Dillian either in his hometown in Bulgaria or in Britain.
Dillian has not dismissed the possibility of fighting Kubrat Pulev but he has expressed his disappointment of having to fight Pulev in Bulgaria. Speaking on the possibility of him fighting Pulev in Bulgaria, Dillian said that Bulgaria was the worst choice to host the fight as it offers nothing to the fighters and the boxing association. To Dillian, Bulgaria no revenue, no money and no profile, therefore, would be unacceptable to fight in Bulgaria. Dillian sees the 02 Arena in Britain as the perfect spot to host their fight as it offers everything from the revenue to the profile.
Dillian’s preferred opponent, Alexander Povetkin has enforced a WBA mandatory title shot at Anthony Joshua which Joshua has yet to respond to. If Joshua responds and accepts the fight, it’s unlikely that we will see a Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin fight in July. That leaves the room for IBF choice, Kubrat Pulev to face Dillian Whyte.
