Friday 4 September 2015 14:04, UK
Dillian Whyte will face replacement opponent Brian Minto as he warms up for his clash with British heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua.
The Brixton man was originally due to battle Dominick Guinn but the American pulled out earlier this week and as a result, former world title challenger Minto (41-9-KO26) will step in at the O2 in London on September 12, live on Sky Sports.
Whyte appears on the same bill as bitter rival Joshua, who takes on Gary Cornish for the Commonwealth belt and, as the pair continue their journeys towards a prospective British title showdown on December 12, both will be keen to steal the limelight.
Minto stepped down to cruiserweight to challenge Marco Huck for the WBO cruiserweight title in 2010 and the heavy-handed champion needed nine rounds to finally halt the man from Pennsylvania. Nicknamed 'The Beast', Minto has racked up 41 wins along with nine defeats and extended the highly-rated Kiwi Joseph Parker into the seventh round last July.
The late change of opponent has done little to worry the unbeaten Whyte (15-0-KO12), who headed over to the famous Kronk gym in Detroit to prepare alongside new trainer Johnathon Banks.
Whyte has never been taken beyond the fourth round and admits he needs more time in the ring to sharpen his skills for the winter showdown with Joshua.
I know what I need to do at this stage of my career and that is to get some rounds.
"I'm not someone who gets unsettled easily," the Brixton man told Sky Sports. "All I want is a good fight that will benefit me and benefit the fans. I don't want to fight someone that as soon I hit them they get knocked out.
"Some guys like doing that in their career. I don't particularly like doing that. I know what I need to do at this stage of my career and that is to get some rounds."
In addition to the two intriguing heavyweight bouts, an eagerly-awaited rematch between Dave Ryan and John Wayne Hibbert features on the undercard and there will be plenty of pride at stake as fellow light-welterweights Ricky Boylan and Danny 'Cassius' Connor face off for bragging rights in Carshalton.
