Friday 29 July 2016 18:25, UK
Dillian Whyte has no doubt that he will become a heavyweight world champion in 2017.
The Jamaican-born Londoner goes toe-to-toe with Doncaster heavyweight David Allen (9-0-1-KO6) for the WBC International title, live and exclusive on Sky Sports 1 on Saturday night, on the undercard of Josh Warrington's clash with Patrick Hyland.
Whyte (17-1-KO14) returned from shoulder surgery last month when he stopped Ivica Bacurin in the sixth round of his first fight since losing his unbeaten record to now IBF world champion Anthony Joshua.
Whyte has clashed with Allen on social media in recent weeks but says the 'White Rhino' is seriously underestimating him ahead of Saturday night's fight at the First Direct Arena, live on Sky Sports.
"I'm up there with the top fighters in the world," Whyte told Sky Sports News HQ.
"Unfortunately, I have had a couple of setbacks in my career with injuries in the last couple of years. They seem to be holding up now and this time next year I'll definitely be a world champion.
"He [Allen] has made a lot of noise and stuff, I've responded to him a couple of times and I'm expecting a decent fight.
"He's undefeated. He'll try to protect his record and it's near his hometown, so he'll try and put up a good fight in front of his fans.
"He says he's tough, he's strong, he's going to drag me into deep water and he's going to drag me down to his level. What he's basically saying is his two chance of winning are me losing my rag or me getting tired. Those are his only two chances so what can I say to that?"
Watch Dillian Whyte v Dave Allen on the undercard to Josh Warrington v Patrick Hyland on Saturday - live on Sky Sports 1 from 8.30pm.
