British heavyweight Dillian Whyte remains frustrated by Deontay Wilder and is determined to settle their bitter rivalry with a knockout victory.
Whyte was the number one contender for the WBC world title for over 1000 days but was repeatedly denied a championship fight against Wilder during the American`s reign.
The two heavyweights have exchanged insults for years, and Whyte is still eager to trade punches with Wilder, who recently returned to action with a seventh-round stoppage win over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Whyte commented on Wilder`s comeback, saying, “He fought someone he was meant to beat.” Whyte suggested that Wilder might have lost some focus in recent years due to earning significant money and changes in his lifestyle, acknowledging that this also happened to him.
Whyte still believes he can defeat and knock out Wilder. He mentioned Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang as examples of fighters who have caused Wilder trouble in the past.
Expressing his strong dislike for Wilder, Whyte stated he prefers physical confrontation over online arguments. “I don`t like Deontay Wilder. I don`t want to go on about it and irritate myself at this stage of life… If he has something to say then, say it to my face and we can deal with it there and then. I`m more about the physical stuff than the verbal stuff.”
Whyte is currently preparing for his next fight against fellow Briton Moses Itauma in Saudi Arabia on August 16.
Itauma is considered a potential future world champion, boasting an undefeated record of 12 fights with 10 knockouts. However, Whyte feels his own attributes are being underestimated ahead of their clash.
Whyte dismissed doubts about his ability against Itauma. “A lot of people think, `he can`t win that, he`s not going to beat him. He`s [Itauma] too fast, he`s too this.` I don`t think that.”
He emphasized his own capabilities: “I just think, okay there`s all this stuff but what can I do. I`m also a big, strong guy. I`m also quick, I`m also more awkward than people think. I`m also better than people think.”
Whyte concluded by asserting his enduring fighting spirit: “People might say I`m not the same wolf I was once, but I`m still a wolf. I`ve still been a part of the pack and I still understand the pack mentality and the pack mindset. Let`s get it.”
Murray Blackwood