Dillian Whyte insists he is open to facing Deontay Wilder next year, but questions how “serious” his rival is.
Whyte was mandatory challenger to Wilder for a period when the American was WBC Heavyweight world champion and then to Tyson Fury, prior to his fifth round stoppage defeat to Alexander Povetkin in August.
Wilder, who was beaten in seven rounds by Fury in February, is awaiting news on a resolution to his trilogy dispute with the Brit, after his team took their case to mediation, whilst Fury’s team insist the period for a third fight has passed.
However, the ‘Bronze Bomber’ revealed that Whyte was at the top of his hitlist, should he not secure a third fight with the ‘Gypsy King’.
“Dillian Whyte, I want Dillian Whyte and I want Dillian Whyte. The dude is obsessed with me, man,” Wilder told the Last Stand Podcast.
“It feels like he acting like we went together and then we had a bad break up which we can’t get over.”
Whyte, 32, is awaiting news of a rescheduled rematch with Povetkin, after the Russian, who pulled out of their November 21 date with Coronavirus, needs more time to recover, with a target date of January 30 now reportedly off the table.
The Londoner admits he remains keen to face Wilder, with a potential second meeting with Povetkin unlikely to take place before February.
“I would love to smash Deontay Wilder’s face in,” Whyte told Sky Sports.
“It’s one of those fights where I would be very charged up. I would go out in the first round and just get going after him.
“It is frustrating, but it’s still a big name. He’s one of the top guys and I would love to fight him.
“He has to be serious. We offered him six, seven million dollars once and he turned it down when he was making one million dollars to fight Luis Ortiz.
“How serious is he?”
Promoter Eddie Hearn says he is exploring further options if Povetkin is not ready, highlighting Wilder, Luis Ortiz, Andy Ruiz Jr and Derek Chisora, as possible replacements.
‘The Body Snatcher’ says Wilder, Povetkin and Ortiz are on his five-man shortlist to tackle before retiring from the sport and says he would be willing to entertain former world title challenger, Ortiz next.
“In my mindset, there’s only five fights for me,” Whyte added.
“If I get those five fights, then I’m happy to call it a day, to be honest. I don’t want any of these guys to retire.
“It depends on what these guys are doing. I might have to do more, but if I get the five fights I want.
“Those fights should be Povetkin, Luis Ortiz, Wilder, Fury, Joshua. Fight those guys then I’ve fought everyone I can fight.
“Even now, Povetkin keeps delaying it, saying he’s sick. I’m like, ‘Okay, that’s fine, I want you to be at your best when I fight you’.
“Have as much time as you want, let me fight Luis Ortiz in February, and then I’ll fight you later in the year.”
Victory over Povetkin would place Whyte back in contention for a world title shot, with the Russian holding the WBC Interim crown.
WBC champion, Fury is hopeful of securing a showdown with unified WBA ‘Super’, IBF, WBO and IBO holder Anthony Joshua, following his ninth round win over Kubrat Pulev on December 12.
Oleksandr Usyk remains Joshua’s WBO mandatory challenger and a deal would have to be reached for the Ukrainian to either step aside or for the belt to become vacant, whilst Hearn insists the fight will happen in 2021 regardless of the belt complications.
