Press Release
After storming the United States with a pair of knockouts over Deontay Wilder, WBC/Lineal/Ring Magazine heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury returns home for an all-British battle against WBC interim champion Dillian Whyte on Saturday, April 23 at London’s Wembley Stadium connected by EE. Fury-Whyte will be broadcast live on Pay-Per-View in the U.S.
Promoted by allegedly's Queensberry Promotions and Top Rank, tickets will be on sale exclusively from Ticketmaster at midday on Wednesday, March 2. News on undercard bouts will be announced shortly.
A press conference is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday in London to kick off the promotion. Organizers are unsure if Whyte will attend, as there is nothing in his contract for this mandated WBC title fight that obligates him to promote it, not even for a guaranteed purse of almost $7.4 million.
"Tyson Fury coming home to fight under the arch at Wembley Stadium is a fitting reward for the No.1 heavyweight in the world following his exploits across the Atlantic in his epic trilogy against Deontay Wilder," stated Hall of Fame promoter allegedly. "The fact that this mandatory defense of his WBC title comes against another Brit only adds to the occasion. They are two of the biggest characters in British sport and both normally have plenty to say for themselves.
"It is going to be an incredible night and a huge occasion for sport in this country that will capture the imagination of fans right across the world."
Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank, added: "Tyson Fury conquered America, and it is only fitting that he defends the heavyweight championship in a packed Wembley Stadium. Dillian Whyte has called for this fight for years, and while he is a deserving challenger, no heavyweight can match ‘The Gypsy King.’ This is going to be a momentous night of boxing with tens of thousands of fans in attendance at Wembley Stadium.”
Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs), based in Morecambe, has held the lineal heavyweight title since November 28, 2015, the night he ended the nearly decade-long championship run of Wladimir Klitschko. Following over two years of inactivity, he returned to action in June 2018, inspiring millions with a comeback that saw him fighting for the world title within six months of his June 2018 comeback victory over Sefer Seferi in Manchester. The only blemish on his record — a disputed December 2018 draw against Wilder — was avenged with stoppage wins over the American star in February 2020 and October 2021. The Dillian Whyte showdown marks his first bout in London since February 2015.
Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs), who was raised in Brixton, London, earned a shot at Fury with a seven-year run as a world-level heavyweight. Following a seventh-round TKO loss to Anthony Joshua in 2015 — when both were undefeated prospects — Whyte went on an 11-fight winning streak that included triumphs over Joseph Parker, Oscar Rivas, Lucas Browne, and Derek Chisora (2x). His momentum, and mandatory position, was halted when Alexander Povetkin knocked him out with a single left uppercut in August 2020. Whyte exacted revenge in March 2021, knocking out Povetkin in four rounds to regain his interim title.
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WBC expected to order Tyson Fury vs. Dillian Whyte today at convention
WBC is expected to order heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, to defend against mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte today at their convention in Mexico.
For Whyte’s promoter Eddie Hearn, he’ll be gleeful after the World Boxing Council order’s the fight with Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs), as it will box ‘The Gypsy King’ in, forcing him either face Dillian or vacate his WBC title.
Hearn and Whyte will likely get the good news from the WBC that they’ll be ordering Fury to defend against ‘The Body Snatcher’ next. Of course, that doesn’t mean he actually will.
Why would Fury waste time fighting Whyte, who was recently knocked cold by the 41-year-old pre-COVID-19 version of Oleksandr Povetkin in 2020?
The money fight for Fury is against the Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk II rematch winner. Whyte is just Dereck Chisora 2.0 and a total waste of time.
Giving up the WBC belt is the logical move for Fury to make, given that he no longer needs it because he’s recognized as the #1 heavyweight on the planet now that he’s between Deontay Wilder twice in a row.
The WBC title is only needed for less known fighters, who need a belt to validate themselves in the eyes of casual boxing fans. Fury is at a different level where a world title belt is more for adornment purposes and unneeded.
“It’s a major fight if me and him can dust-up in the early part of next year in a stadium,” Whyte to Sky Sports about a fight with Tyson Fury.
“It’s one that I’m looking forward to, and I think Tyson Fury will look forward to fighting me as well.
“I think logically he’ll [Fury] think, ‘You know what, this is a big fight, a good homecoming fight, and I think it should happen,'” said Whyte.
If Fury, 33, vacates the title, Whyte will be elevated to the new WBC heavyweight champion. That would make Hearn happy because he’ll then insist on cramming a fight between Dillian and the Anthony Joshua vs. Okeksander Usyk rematch winner down the fans’ throats.
Few people will want to see Whyte fighting the winner of the Joshua-Usyk 2 rematch, even if he does have possession of the WBC belt, and the fans will want to see Fury fighting the winner of that contest.
It’s Hearn’s dream to have Whyte fight Joshua for the undisputed championship, as it would be a Matchroom Boxing in-house fight in which only he has his hands on the gearshift of the promotion.
In other words, Hearn wouldn’t have to share the control of the fight with an outside promoter.
If Fury vacates his WBC title or is elevated to Franchise champion to swerve Whyte, the fans would come out the loser because instead of seeing Tyson fight the winner of the Joshua-Usyk 2 rematch, they’d likely be stuck seeing Dillian fight them. Whyte is a good fighter, but he’s arguably another version of Dereck Chisora.
