Who advises Dillian Whyte? Have they done a good job?

[MultiSportAthlete]

Hi all,

I think it is established that Whyte is self-managed, but I have seen a few tweets/interviews suggesting that his negotiations happen through someone named Jay. Is anyone familiar with him? Does Jay advise other fighters too?

Either way, I am interested in your views on whether Whyte’s career has been managed well. I am not sure what I think.

On one hand, based on his recent fights, it seems to me that Whyte has made a lot of money relative to his skill level.

On the other hand, with a reputable manager, maybe Whyte could have gotten a title shot earlier, and/or been steered away from risks and legal expenses. Perhaps this would have been better for Whyte’s career over the long run?

Thoughts?

Just to be clear, I am neutral on Whyte. I understand he may be controversial and I am not interested in arguing.

Cheers.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

I think Hearn has advised him on which fights to take and it's generally been to his opitmal advantage. Sure he could of got a title shot earlier. But he wouldn't have made more money and he would of lost to any of them conclusively. Instead he's competed at a slight level below and managed to get big money fights while winning some and losing some. At the same time there was some pretense that he was an avoided nemesis, when in reality he would of lost when he stepped up. And that all helped build his brand

[skanksta]

Whyte is like the Tim Henman of boxing.

Made more money out being a B level challenger than all but the elite superstars.
Whoever advises him is a genius and it looks like he’s got one more fat PPV payday left..

[Pukka Cheese]

Hes made a load of money and thats what its all about.

[TheLeprechaun]

Whyte is like the Tim Henman of boxing.

Made more money out being a B level challenger than all but the elite superstars.
Whoever advises him is a genius and it looks like he’s got one more fat PPV payday left..

Agreed. Henman was better in terms of talent. I'd say talentwise the Greg Rusedski of boxing but earningwise the Tim Henman of boxing.

[Verdi]

Considering his ability, the guy has done very well for himself.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Whyte is like the Tim Henman of boxing.

Made more money out being a B level challenger than all but the elite superstars.
Whoever advises him is a genius and it looks like he’s got one more fat PPV payday left..

Agree that Whyte has earned stratospheric sums of money relative to his actual talent, similar to Bellew in that regard

Henman was a legit top ten tennis player in the world for many years. Whyte has never been anywhere near top ten in the world.

[margaret thatcher]

whyte was undoubtedly top 10, people forget how awful the division gets after the top few guys

[CaptainSpacerod]

whyte was undoubtedly top 10, people forget how awful the division gets after the top few guys

HW maybe but he wasn’t one of the top ten boxers in the world like Henman was one of the top ten tennis players in the world.

[margaret thatcher]

ah yes, true dat, he most certainly wasnt, maybe top 50-75ish

[Wee Tommy]

I think Hearn has advised him on which fights to take and it's generally been to his opitmal advantage. Sure he could of got a title shot earlier. But he wouldn't have made more money and he would of lost to any of them conclusively. Instead he's competed at a slight level below and managed to get big money fights while winning some and losing some. At the same time there was some pretense that he was an avoided nemesis, when in reality he would of lost when he stepped up. And that all helped build his brand

Excellent summary, agree. He’s overachieving in terms of money earned to actual fighting ability.

[cpx2]

Would echo the above in that he's been advised very well. Must've been making £1m+ for a good few fights pre-COVID, and a terrific payday from the Fury fight. Had he stepped up to that level at any point he'd have lost. Was considered a dangerous challenger despite ability level not quite reflecting that. Would say he was arguably top 5/6 at one point though, as others have suggested the division's pretty weak beyond the top names (especially when Usyk, consensus top 2, wouldn't even have been in the midst a few years back).

[a force]

Eddie Hearn has guided Whyte’s career as far as I’m aware & he’s done a brilliant job. Undeserved PPV fights, home advantage against fighters with short notice, judges cards in his favour, referees in his favour, a failed drug test swept away, ducked tough final eliminators but still had people saying he was the one been ducked.

Whyte & Hearn & anyone else involved have managed his career superbly.

Another huge PPV against Joshua followed by another against a Joyce or Dubois type on the way down & he can retire with a fortune in the bank.

[Coco]

Bad idea turning the AJ fight down

There are rumours that he was half way round the block on his bicycle though

[skanksta]

Whyte is like the Tim Henman of boxing.

Made more money out being a B level challenger than all but the elite superstars.
Whoever advises him is a genius and it looks like he’s got one more fat PPV payday left..

Agree that Whyte has earned stratospheric sums of money relative to his actual talent, similar to Bellew in that regard

Henman was a legit top ten tennis player in the world for many years. Whyte has never been anywhere near top ten in the world.

He reached No.4 not long ago and has been kicking around the Top 20 for years.
Almost exactly the same as Tim.

I actually caught Henmania once..

[nmhz]

No doubt Whyte has made a s#itload fighting outside the elite, so from a business perspective he has done great. So I guess the original poster should clarify what is considered a good job? He has had multiple top 15 opponents, multiple ppv shows, made millions... from a business perspective it is a good job in my opinion.
Could his career have been better with different opponents? Yes of course but only in hindsight just like anyone else.

[Muttley]

Hi all,

I think it is established that Whyte is self-managed, but I have seen a few tweets/interviews suggesting that his negotiations happen through someone named Jay. Is anyone familiar with him? Does Jay advise other fighters too?

Either way, I am interested in your views on whether Whyte’s career has been managed well. I am not sure what I think.

On one hand, based on his recent fights, it seems to me that Whyte has made a lot of money relative to his skill level.

On the other hand, with a reputable manager, maybe Whyte could have gotten a title shot earlier, and/or been steered away from risks and legal expenses. Perhaps this would have been better for Whyte’s career over the long run?

Thoughts?

Just to be clear, I am neutral on Whyte. I understand he may be controversial and I am not interested in arguing.

Cheers.

In answer to your question Whyte has earned a small fortune with the limited to talent he has. So yes,over achieved imo. And good on d luck to him

[CaptainSpacerod]

He reached No.4 not long ago and has been kicking around the Top 20 for years.
Almost exactly the same as Tim.

I actually caught Henmania once..

Listen mate, you can trot out all the stats about Whyte that you want but I’m telling you until you’ve had a hill named after you you’re not an elite level sportsman

[cormack]

Whyte has done well as previous posters have said especially at his natural level of talent which isnt that high , but not every one can be " elite " or win the gold .
Lets not forget the waiting period when he was being faffed about by the WBC for a long time in order to get a title opportunity .
What I enjoy with him is the jeopardy as he is always just one step away from being sparked or taking out the other fighter .
Good luck to him .

[Finkel]

He had an entertaining career! Top 5 is a good achievement for him, whether or not he could have ever beaten Wilder we will never know. Ultimately his face didn't fit. Like him or loathe him, he beat a lot of ranked contenders and earnt his ranking and shot at the title.

The sad thing is, he went by the book with the WBC, and they shafted him at every turn. The split on the Fury purse being their final F U and bon voyage. His association with Hearn at times made him an unsympathetic character and undeserving target of ire as well. Saying that he didn't win any fans with his non performance against Fury.

Should he have gone an alternative route to the WBC? Probably, but I imagine it isn't easy to cut your losses when you are in touching distance of the end goal. Hindsight is 20-20 as they say.

I for one have enjoyed his career even if it is near its end.

[skanksta]

He reached No.4 not long ago and has been kicking around the Top 20 for years.
Almost exactly the same as Tim.

I actually caught Henmania once..

Listen mate, you can trot out all the stats about Whyte that you want but I’m telling you until you’ve had a hill named after you you’re not an elite level sportsman

I did catch it !
I was on the District Line visiting a friend in Wimbledon one summer in about 2000. There were two blue rinse old dears going the other way obviously coming back from the tennis. They left the Daily Mail behind - and this was before smart phones - so I grabbed it and read it. (For shame )
I started to feel ill that night, nothing serious, just viral, mild flu for a few days and randomly shouting out "C'mon Tim" for about a week or so.

[dookus]

He's an entertaining contender, earned well, never really championship class

[Wales]

He reached No.4 not long ago and has been kicking around the Top 20 for years.
Almost exactly the same as Tim.

I actually caught Henmania once..

Listen mate, you can trot out all the stats about Whyte that you want but I’m telling you until you’ve had a hill named after you you’re not an elite level sportsman

Herman’s hill is only relevant for one month a year.

Come back to me when every weekend, millions of people up and down the country ask each other

“Fancy a line of Henman”

[fizzjambo]

whyte was undoubtedly top 10, people forget how awful the division gets after the top few guys

100%, heavyweight has always been a very shallow division. Whyte’s been a legitimate top ten guy for years now. Well short of top level imo but easily top ten (a scenario almost unique to the top two divisions in boxing)