Dillian Whyte tells Tyson Fury’s team to expect a major bidding war for mega-millions TV rights of promised fight with the Gypsy King… a bout the Body Snatcher says he’s ‘wanted all my life’
- Dillian Whyte has been promised a WBC title shot with champion Tyson Fury
- Eddie Hearn says will do ‘everything possible’ to get Whyte his mandatory shot
- Fury does not know if he wants an interim fight before the winner of Joshua-Usyk
- Whyte has described a contest with Fury as ‘the fight I’ve wanted all my life’
Dillian Whyte has joined Eddie Hearn in warning Frank Warren and Bob Arum to expect a massive bidding war for the promotional rights if his promised fight with Tyson Fury goes ahead next spring.
The mega-millions outcome would also decide whether that world heavyweight title fight would be televised live on pay per view by BT Sport in the UK and ESPN in America or on DAZN both sides of the Atlantic.
Hearn ‘expects’ to confirm Whyte as mandatory challenger for the WBC title at that organisation”s annual convention in Mexico City next month.
Dillian Whyte (left) has joined Eddie Hearn (right) in building up a fight with Tyson Fury
Hearn admits he expects to confirm Whyte as mandatory challenger for Fury’s (right) WBC title
Whyte expresses his ‘gratitude’ for Hearn’s efforts and ‘a sense of loyalty’ but adds: ‘I have to put myself first when it comes to the fight I’ve wanted all my life.
‘I cannot let a TV network get in the way of my opportunity to prove myself against the champion they are now calling the greatest heavyweight in the world. The chance to become The Man. It will come down to who comes up with the most money.’
Fury has not decided yet whether he will need an interim fight before taking on the winner of the Anthony Joshua rematch with Olexsandr Usyk for the undisputed world heavyweight championship next summer.
Hearn says: ‘Dillian has waited a very long time for his mandatory shot and we will do everything possible to help him.
Hearn has said he will do ‘everything possible’ to earn Whyte his mandatory shot at the belt
‘We expect to enter negotiations in November. If Arum and ESPN make a huge offer to Dillian which is acceptable to him we at Matchroom would give him our full support.
‘If not it will go to massive purse bids because this is a huge fight for Britain and big around the world. We can expect revenue of around £35 million fro UK pay per view.
‘Tyson is thought to want a homecoming fight in Britain after some years campaigning in the US and this one would fill Wembley in late March or early April. Or Old Trafford if that’s what he prefers.’
Wembley Stadium has been discussed as a potential venue for the Whyte vs Fury contest
Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground could be a venue to factor in Fury’s northern roots
Joshua’s bid for redemption after the lacklustre loss of his belts to Usyk is also likely to take place in London in the same time frame, which would make for a truly heavyweight spring here.
Whyte came to London on Thursday from his training base in Portugal to protest against doubts that a shoulder injury caused him to withdraw from his fight against Otto Wallin on this Saturday’s show at the O2, rather than an reluctance to risk his WBC mandatory status.
He said: ‘I needed this fight. I’ve often boxed with injuries and would have done so again until the doctor ordered me not to do do so. Look at the great shape I’m in. I was ready to knock him out.’
Wallin has demanded an independent examination of the shoulder and Hearn confirmed: ‘We have sent the full medical report to the British Boxing Board of Control.’