Friday 30 March 2018 10:32, UK
Dillian Whyte says Anthony Joshua is backing him to defeat Deontay Wilder, but still wants to 'beat up' his British rival and might climb into the ring in Cardiff.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has told WBC heavyweight champion Wilder to firstly face Whyte, his No 1 ranked challenger, before a fight with Joshua, who puts WBA 'super' and IBF belts at stake in a unification clash with WBO title holder Joseph Parker this Saturday, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
With Joshua-Wilder talks at a standstill, Whyte believes his old foe is eager for him to rip the title from the American, setting up the prospect of an historic world heavyweight bout for all the belts in Britain.
"Listen, AJ wants nothing more than me to go and fight Wilder and beat him, and for me and him to set up a rematch as both British world champions," Whyte exclusively told Sky Sports.
"That's boxing history. That would be bigger than him fighting Wilder. That's proper history - two British fighters on British soil for all the world heavyweight titles at once. That's pure history."
He doesn't need to grab the mic, I will probably try and run in the ring anyway, and be like 'Let's do it!'
Whyte plans to be ringside at the Principality Stadium and could issue his own challenge to Joshua if he emerges victorious.
"He doesn't need to grab the mic," said Whyte. "I will probably try and run in the ring anyway, and be like 'Let's do it!'
"I would like to fight AJ another two or three times over my career. I think it's one of those fights where we work hard, we'll always be motivated, and we'll always want to beat each other up. We just have that chemistry."
Last weekend's explosive knockout of Lucas Browne kept Whyte in line for a WBC title shot, although Wilder is reluctant to agree a defence with the Brixton man unless it leads to a guaranteed fight with Joshua.
And Hearn could instead arrange a rematch between Joshua and Whyte, who wants to avenge his sole professional defeat in December 2015.
"Joshua watched Dillian box last week, and thought he was brilliant," Hearn told Sky Sports. "Now Dillian is paying Joshua compliments. We need to keep the rivalry!"
Asked about Whyte entering the ring, Hearn added: "It's up to Joshua. We don't plan things. If, at the end of the fight, Joshua says 'What's up, Dillian?', then great."
Whyte is keeping a close eye on his old foe this weekend and will answer the call for another showdown.
"Joshua is always No 1 on my list, simply because, we don't like each other," he said.
"There is a lot of needle, but we have a lot of respect for each other also, and we just do something to each other that makes each other want to fight."
