Finally Dillian Whyte (28-1-0-19 / K.-O.) signed his contract for his clash with WBC champion Tyson Fury on April 23 in London.
I hope his insurance is in order, because I don’t think he will last long against the Gypsy King (31-0-12–22 / K.-O.).
Whyte is a crybaby who asks to participate in a championship match since “vitam ecoeuram”. And when he finally wins his case, he is difficult. He sulks, because he thinks he is not paid enough.
To face Fury, he has an $8 million guarantee and about $2 million more for pay-TV royalties.
Why do I think he thinks he’s the navel of the world? Because its power of attraction practically does not exist.
Since 2015, its highest score on TV has been 699,000 fans. It was against Anthony Joshua, on December 12 in London where he had been defeated by TK.-O./7. One is entitled to wonder, of this number, how many were supporters of Joshua.
Whyte is not a pay-TV boxer. By the way, remember … During his victory by decision over Oscar Rivas, at the 02 Arena, London, in July 2019, he could not have done better than 368,000 amateurs.
During his triumph over Alexander Povetkin on March 27, 2021 in Gibraltar, only 197,000 people were interested in this revenge which was to allow him to become the logical contender for the crown of Fury.
To give you an idea of his popularity on TV, here is the list of other major fights in which he participated.
28/07-2018: Dillian Whyte goes Joseph Parker – 571,000 Sky Box fans
12/22/2018: Dillian Whyte vs. Derek Chisora - 532,000 Sky Boxes
08/22/2020: Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetkin (1st) – 337,000 Sky boxes
Dillian would like more money to face Tyson Fury. I understand it, I too, like everyone else, would like more money. But I don’t think he’s worth more than he’s offered.
His highest career purse was $4 million in the first fight against Russian Povetkin.
He received purses of $1 million against Joseph Parker, Derek Chissora, Oscar Rivas and $1.5 million against Mariusz Wach.
Guess it’s just for publicity, but promoter Eddie Hearn is throwing it all out that Whyte is going to get knocked out. to Fury during the clash. A sort of Buster Douglas and his knockout on Mike Tyson, because with two months to go, the Gypsy King is an 8-to-1 favorite to defeat Whyte.
Makhmudov, the best in Canada
Following his triumph over Maiusz Wach, the site BoxRec promoted the fat Arslanbek Makhmudov to 30and rank of the best heavyweights in the world. He is now ahead of Simon Kean who occupies the 31and rank. He therefore becomes the best heavyweight in Canada.
Personally, I would like to see him in action against pugilists such as Robert Helenius (31-3-0—20/K.-O.), or Efe Ajagba (15-12-0—12/K.-O. .)
I doubt either of them will accept, knowing the punch of big Mak. And of course…there is always the matter of money.
Just a little idea of what I’m talking about. Robert Helenius had to fight for eight rounds before finally getting the better of Erkan Teper. Makhmudov demolished him in the first round.
Efe Ajagba found his man on September 19 by losing the unanimous decision against Frank Sanchez (15-1-0—12 / K.-O.). However, Aajagba has already defeated Jonathan Rice by unanimous decision in September 2020. Makhmudov passed the K.-O./7 to this same Rice.
The time has come to get down to business.
Another bronze medal
It took just over two minutes for Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Frazer Clarke to claim the honors in his first pro game.
The fight took place on February 19 at The Arena in Manchester, England, and Clarke made short work of rival Jake Darnell.
At the 2020 Tokyo Games, Clarke was pulled from his match against Bakhodir Jalolov (9-0-0—9/KO) due to a cut in his right eye following a headbutt. He had to settle for a bronze medal.
Clarke was born on August 7, 1991. He is 30 years old. He claims he will be world champion before he turns 35.
To be taken seriously
The next rival of Oscar Rivas (28-1-0-19 / K.-O.) is to be taken seriously. His name is Evgeny Romanov and he was born in Russia. His pro record is (16-0-0—11/KO), but all of his fights have been fought in Russia. However, it is practically unknown in America.
He is 36 years old and has a law degree. It has good punching power. Don’t take my word for it. Ask ex-world champion Deontay Wilder what he thinks of him.
In one match, in the amateurs, he floored Wilder on three occasions to finally win by referee stoppage.
Next June, it will be his first fight outside his native country. He is currently the second-ranked light heavyweight contender.
The first row is vacant.
The WBO is not kidding with the “puck”
David Benavidez, whom Canelo Alvarez flees like the plague, has just won by TK.-O./3 against D’Mitrius Ballard, on February 19 in Tijuana, Mexico.
The WBO gives him ten days to come to an agreement with Zhanibek Alimkhanuly, the second contender for the crown of Demetrius Andrade. Otherwise, there will be a bidding for the match between the two. Mungia is an aspirant in all four World Associations.
1/WBO, 12/IBF, 2/WBA and 1/WBC.
Okolie at work sunday
If you are an admirer of heavyweight boxers, you will be well served this Sunday afternoon (Quebec time), on DAZN, while Lawrence Okolie (17-0-0—14K.-O.) will put his WBO title of super light heavyweights at stake against his fourth contender Michal Cieslak (21-1-0-15 / K.-O.).
The fight takes place in Great Britain, at Arena 02 in London and will allow us to compare the styles of these two pugilists against our recent local winners, Arslanbek Makhmudov and Simon Kean.
Okolie won by K.-O. in three of his last four fights. It should be noted that three of his rivals had never suffered defeat before facing him.
As for his rival, Cieslak, he comes fourth among the aspirants to his crown. His only career loss so far was in January 2020 when he lost the decision to Illunga junior Makabu in a match for the vacant WBC title.
Okolie should emerge victorious by decision from this clash.
The big surprise of 1964
58 years ago, on February 25, a young boxer named Cassius Clay 19-0-0—15/K.-O. surprised the whole world by passing the K.-O./6 to the champion of the WBC and the WBA, Sonny Liston (28-0-0—24/K.-O.)
The match was nearly called off by the doctors due to Clay’s high blood pressure. It was only after a few treatments that the doctors finally managed to regulate the pressure of the young man of 22 years.
Clay started the fight like a lion except that in the fourth engagement, he complained of sore eyes. Immediately, it was believed that the champion’s gloves had been rigged.
Former heavyweight Eddie Machen claimed the same fate befell him in 1960 in a match against Liston.
Two days after his victory, Cassius Clay changed his name to Cassius X and on March 6, the Nation of Islam named him Muhammad Ali.
After 58 years, three mysteries remain unsolved regarding Liston.
The first: had he wagered against himself?
Second: He knew there would be a rematch. Did he feign a shoulder injury only to sit in his corner after the 6and round?
Third: Almost six years after his death in June 2016, it is still unclear whether he committed suicide, was killed by the mafia, or died a beautiful death. Moreover, his death is still under investigation by the Dallas police.
