Eddie Hearn Ready To Give Dillian Whyte A Shot At Tyson Fury

While it may not look like it, there is not a lot of time left between now and February 2021, the deadline for when interim WBC Heavyweight Champion Dillian Whyte is to get a title opportunity. That is especially true considering several boxing bouts are being postponed due to the coronavirus. Whyte believes he deserves his shot at gold, and so does Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn.

Speaking to IFL TV, Hearn discussed the possibility of Whyte facing champion Tyson Fury instead of Deontay Wilder. Back in February, Fury beat Wilder via TKO in the seventh after controlling the entire rematch. Knocking him down twice, Wilder’s corner called the fight off. Wilder exercised his rematch clause right away, but must first recuperate from biceps surgery. As of now, the trilogy bout is expected to take place sometime in November or December.

Whyte believes if Wilder isn’t ready then he should get the title opportunity. Hearn agrees, stating:

“I’m not sure Wilder will be ready this year, I’ve got a funny feeling. So I’d like to see Dillian Whyte jump in and fight Tyson this year. If Wilder’s not ready, it should be absolutely 100 percent be made by the WBC,” Hearn said, via Boxing Scene.

Whyte (27-1) hasn’t lost a bout since 2016, when Anthony Joshua beat him for the WBC International, Commonwealth, and British Heavyweight Titles. Ranked number one by the WBC in 2017, Whyte won the interim WBC Heavyweight Title in 2019. Still, he hasn’t gotten a shot during Wilder’s entire reign as champion. He was supposed to face Alexander Povetkin on May 2 for the interim title but that has been postponed due to the coronavirus. The bout is now rumored for July.

Fury has since dismissed Whyte due to him not being the center of attention. There is a chance Wilder-Fury III won’t be able to take place inside the United States or the United Kingdom due to travel restrictions and the pandemic. The idea of crowds has Hearn and Bob Arum thinking about locations that can allow fans. Location is key, as is the timetable of Wilder.

“Where are they going to do this fight? We haven’t heard from Wilder for a long, long time. He had an operation? The money isn’t going to be great for this fight because there won’t be any crowd. No one wants to see the fight… I don’t know. All I’m saying is if Wilder’s not ready then Dillian should have that shot straight away,” Hearn went on to say.

If the Wilder fight does happen and he wins again, Fury is expected to face Joshua for the undisputed heavyweight title. He must first get past Kubrat Pulev. Regardless, Hearn believes Joshua will be there in the end, and wouldn’t mind Whyte getting his earned opportunity.

“If Fury fights Whyte, you’re still going to get an undisputed British heavyweight fight because the winner will fight AJ,” Hearn stated. “We’re ready to make AJ against Fury now but we’re not ignoring Dillian Whyte must get what he worked hard to get and what he’s been promised, which is a heavyweight world title shot.”