Tuesday 7 June 2016 11:54, UK
Dillian Whyte has vowed not to take the easy route in his bid to becoming heavyweight world champion.
'The Bodysnatcher' faces Cyril Leonet (10-3-2-KO3) at The O2 on June 25, live on Sky Sports Box Office, but he is already plotting a British title fight in September and a huge domestic dust-up against Dereck Chisora in December.
Whyte (16-1-KO13) hopes it will put him in line for a re-match with IBF world heavyweight champion and Matchroom stablemate Anthony Joshua, who admitted their fight last year was the biggest test of his professional career.
"I can beat him (Joshua)," said Whyte, who was stopped in seven rounds. "I popped my shoulder with one big hit. I've had so much rehab but I'm back.
"The dream for me is to win the world title. I want a re-match. If there's another route I would take it, but I enjoy fighting Joshua. So much pride, passion and hunger. I was 40 per cent fit in that fight. I came into boxing the hard way, but I'm still learning and I've got a lot of top people behind me now."
Joshua tops the Sky Sports Box Office bill with his first world title defence against American Dominic Breazeale, but Whyte is convinced his bitter rival will remain unbeaten.
"Dominic is terrible," he said. "I see Joshua winning in two or three rounds maximum. He'll be motivated. There's a title on the line and he's 6'8" so we'll see. I can see AJ's hard right finishing it."
Whyte also criticised the standard of David Haye's recent opponents and says he won't be taking the easy option himself - despite not having fought since suffering a shoulder injury in the defeat to Joshua in December.
"Cyril Leonet is a good operator," he said. "He hasn't lost in six or seven years. I didn't want to come back to an easy fight. Eddie Hearn asked if I was sure after my shoulder injury, but it's a big card so I want to come back to a hard fight," he said.
"The shoulder injury is OK," he said. "It takes a while. The scar has healed but it's mental. I need to hit someone hard to see how my body feels. That's why I need two fights before the British title. I need to see how it feels on the 25th.
If he comes through that test unscathed, the 28-year-old hopes for another fight next month before taking on Dave Allen in September for the vacant British title and Chisora later in the year.
"It's amazing to be a British heavyweight right now," he said. "After June 25, I'll fight in July then for the British title in September. Dave Allen wants me. I'm here. Chisora will take time to negotiate. He's erratic. We both need a few wins then I'll fight him in December."
