Dillian Whyte plots Anthony Joshua rematch route
Tuesday 24 May 2016 16:31, UK
Dillian Whyte has the likes of Joseph Parker and David Haye in mind as he sets off on the road towards a rematch with Anthony Joshua.
'The Bodysnatcher' (16-1-KO13) makes his comeback from shoulder surgery on the undercard of Joshua's maiden IBF world heavyweight title defence against Dominic Breazeale on June 25 - live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Whyte, who was stopped by Joshua in the seventh-round of an enthralling British title fight in December, has joined his long-time rival at Matchroom and is already looking ahead to fighting one of the division's big names at the end of 2016.
Whyte told Sky Sports: "I want an eight-rounder warm-up, 10-rounder for an international title, a 12-rounder for the British title and then maybe one defence of the British title this year. Then a big fight at the end of the year with someone like Joseph Parker, Dereck Chisora, David Price or even David Haye.
I want a rematch with him [Whyte] sometime because of the type of fights we have; I like that type of fight.
"I want to be in the big fights. One of those kind of opponents at the end of year, close the year off, take some time off with my family and my missus. Next year, back on it and I want to whup Joshua's a*** next year.
"I want to win the British title and I'd love to win the Commonwealth and the European title. That's the traditional route but I'll take whatever route I need to take."
In addition to changing promoter, Whyte has switched trainers, leaving Wladimir Klitschko's handler Johnathon Banks to join up with London-based Mark Tibbs.
Whyte added: "That loss has put me in a position where I've stripped everything back, got rid of some people around me. Now I'm working with one of the top sports facilities in Europe at Loughborough University. Everything is coming together.
"I'm also with a new boxing coach in Mark Tibbs. I'm working with him over in West Ham and up in Loughborough. I'm not going away to Austria for six weeks at a time now - I'm working with someone on a daily basis. I'm investing much more in my boxing now.
"It wasn't very practical before. Johnathon lives in America and when I was training I was always training around Wladimir Klitschko. I need my own commitment. This is the Dillian Whyte show. I need people to be 100 per cent committed to that or I need to look elsewhere because I'm the one who would have regrets at the end of the day."
Despite the open hostility between the pair before, during and after their classic fight at The O2, Joshua welcomed Whyte to the Matchroom team and is pleased to see him on next month's bill.
"He's a great asset to the sport and I want a rematch with him sometime because of the type of fights we have," said Joshua. "I like that type of fight
"It's a great opportunity for him to display himself. Hopefully his shoulder is better so he can knock someone out. It gives people an indication of who I will be fighting in the future. I want him to go a few rounds to display some of his boxing skills."
