Whyte vs Chisora 2: Analysing Dillian Whyte's perfect fighting weight
Friday 14 December 2018 08:47, UK
Dillian Whyte is still working towards perfecting his fighting weight – but believes he will be lighter and more explosive against Derek Chisora.
Book Whyte vs Chisora 2 online here
Watch Whyte vs Chisora 2 online here
Whyte's weigh-in results have remained between 17-and-a-half and 18-and-a-half stone throughout the past few years.
That heavyweight frame is in the same ballpark as Anthony Joshua. Whyte was heavier than Joshua when they fought three years ago.
Whyte's most recent two fights saw him breach the 18st mark, a milestone which Joshua has been beyond but also made a point of retreating to a lower size.
Whyte insists his 18st 6lbs frame against Joseph Parker will be decreased against Chisora with the absence of injuries during his preparation.
"Yeah, I'm going to definitely be lighter. I just have to make sure I haven't got a broken hand and a broken rib," he said, referring to problems before he faced Parker.
I came in at 18st 6lbs, I was still able to fight at a high pace. Imagine I come in at 17-and-a-half stone, 17st 8lbs, 17st 6lbs...
That target could see Whyte return to the same size as when he beat Chisora two years ago (17st 8lbs).
Whyte was the lighter man in their first fight as Chisora came in at 17st 12lbs, a size which he is likely to replicate again.
On November 1 at their first press conference, Whyte claimed that he marginally above his target weight for the Chisora rematch, saying: "Two kilos [4.4lbs]. I'm definitely going to be lighter than I was for the Parker fight, 100 per cent."
As he has gained muscle and strength with his ever-evolving training regime at Loughborough University, Whyte's weight has crept up since facing Joshua in December 2015.
Whyte was heavier than Joshua and Joseph Parker but lighter than Robert Helenius and Lucas Browne.
By contrast, Chisora is accustomed to being the bigger man.
He was heavier than Carlos Takam and Agit Kabayel in recent fights. Six-and-a-half years ago he was notably bigger than David Haye after achieving the lightest weight of his career (17st 3lbs) in his sole world title fight against Vitali Klitschko. That low weight has not proved sustainable.
He has recently linked up with Haye as his manager. Next Friday at the weigh-in we will discover what shape Chisora can achieve with Haye overseeing him.
Watch Dillian Whyte vs Derek Chisora 2, and the undercard including David Price vs Tom Little, Cristofer Rosales vs Charlie Edwards and Ryan Walsh vs Reece Bellotti, live from The O2, Saturday, December 22, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book online here.
