Dillian Whyte has hit out at heavyweight rivals including Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr following his return to heavyweight action.
Whyte returned to the ring on Saturday 7 December to face Mariusz Wach on the undercard of Joshua vs Ruiz Jr II in Saudi Arabia, just 24 hours after being cleared by UKAD for a failed drug test.
The 31-year-old won by unanimous decision and is now looking to resume his challenge for the heavyweight title.
Whyte beat Oscar Rivas in June to claim the WBC interim heavyweight title, but had it provisionally suspended pending an investigation from UKAD.
He’s now shared his thoughts on the fighters who could stand in his way as he looks to challenge for the title once more.
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Deontay Wilder
Deontay Wilder is the current holder of the WBC heavyweight title, and is set to defend the belt against Tyson Fury February 2020.
With Whyte looking to rejuvenate his title hopes, the ‘Bronze Bomber’ will inevitably be at the top of his hit list.
Speaking of Wilder to Sky Sports, Whyte said: “Coward. Chicken. Yellow-livered hill-billy.”
“It would be a tough fight because he is quite agile with awkward movement. I would expect a tough fight but I believe I can knock Wilder out.”
“People might laugh but I believe I can get to him, and knock him out.”
“It wouldn’t be a fight where I would jab my way in. I’d run at him in the first round and start brawling and, if I get chinned, then so be it.”
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Anthony Joshua
Wilder isn’t the only champion that Dillian Whyte thinks he can beat. The Jamaican-born fighter said he’d love to meet Anthony Joshua for a third time in the ring.
AJ recently defeated Andy Ruiz Jr to reclaim his WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles, but Whyte believes Joshua’s chin would be no match for his left hook.
He said: “Two-time heavyweight world champion. What can I say? I’d love a third fight with him because the score is 1-1.”
“I can beat him. He is open to the left hook and I’ve got the best left hook in the business. I believe I can knock him out, and I believe I will.”
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Andy Ruiz Jr
Whyte went in hardest of all on Andy Ruiz Jr, who recently admitted he didn’t take his rematch with Joshua seriously enough.
With the two heavyweights not in the mix for the next title bouts, it seems a showdown between the two could be likely.
Laying into Ruiz Jr for his recent antics and ultimate loss in Saudi Arabia, Whyte said he’d happily fight ‘The Destroyer’ and would even go to Mexico for a fight.
“Have you seen Star Wars? He is Jabba The Hutt,” Whyte said.
“He should be ashamed of himself. I don’t understand – these guys work so hard to get to a place, then get there, then fall off the edge of a cliff.”
“People might say I came in out of shape as well. But that’s a different story, I wasn’t the unified heavyweight champion of the world!”
“If Ruiz Jr wants it, he can get it, because he’s now a big player in the game. I’d go to Mexico to fight him.”
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Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury is the contender for Wilder’s WBC title and should he claim it in February will inevitably move up on The Body Snatcher’s hit list.
Whyte showed slightly more respect for the ‘Gypsy King’, but still believes he could beat Fury should the two come together in the ring.
He said: “I don’t know what to say about Tyson Fury.”
“He’s awkward and a big guy but I believe I could beat him.”
“You’ve got to target Fury’s body, and pressure him. When Otto Wallin pressured him it caused a lot of problems.”
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Alexander Povetkin
The only one to escape the sharp tongue of Whyte seemed to be Alexander Povetkin.
Despite maintaining that he’d love the fight, The Body Snatcher seemed less cocksure of a victory over the former WBA heavyweight champion.
Speaking of the Russian he said: “I would definitely love that to be my next fight, 100 per cent.”
“He’s tough, he’s got fast hands. He’s an Olympic gold medallist, a former world champion.”
“It’s another great experience fight for me because I’m still inexperienced. I would love this as my next fight in March.
“We would trade. Povetkin is a very good fighter because he does little things with his sharp hands.”
“There wouldn’t be any running or moving – we’re two guys who would be trading until one of us get decked!”
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After being cleared by UKAD it looks like Dillian Whyte is fully back on the heavyweight scene and isn’t shy about making sure everyone knows it.
(Featured image source: Twitter/ Fraser Dainton, Sky Sports and DAZN USA)