The Whyte Approach: Plotting Dillian Whyte’s route back

By Elliot Worsell

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Similar to a tardy attendee at a comedy show, Dillian Whyte made a comeback to boxing over the weekend. An usher directed him to occupy an unoccupied seat towards the rear of the venue, ensuring that his arrival wouldn’t disrupt those already present. By doing so, Whyte could go unnoticed, as he has done successfully for several months, and refrain from disturbing the performer’s flow and focus. This performer possesses the unique talent of identifying latecomers, interrogating them with a series of inquiries, and potentially ridiculing them from a distance. In essence, this individual excels at creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for others.

It made sense to reintroduce Whyte to the boxing scene in this manner, perhaps even the only option available. By arranging a fight on an untelevised Sunday show in Mayo, Ireland against the widely adored Christian Hammer, it was essentially a way of telling anyone with even a hint of curiosity, “There’s nothing noteworthy happening here, so please continue on.” One could argue that this type of comeback fight aligns perfectly with the fundamental purpose behind it.

The plan was probably not to attract global attention towards Whyte, especially considering the numerous unanswered questions. Instead, the objective was to (a) reintroduce him to the boxing ring to overcome any rustiness and (b) reinstate him as an active fighter, paving the way for lucrative future bouts. On Sunday, both objectives were successfully attained. As anticipated, Whyte swiftly defeated an unfit and uninspired Hammer within three rounds, instantly resurrecting his career. It almost felt as if the year 2023 never occurred.

It might be for the best, too, that this remains the case. If just to all get along, it might serve us well to adopt a blissful ignorance when it comes to Whyte and that ill-fated Anthony Joshua rematch. It might be beneficial, both for us and certainly for him, to accept that Whyte, 30-3 (20), is merely the latest boxer to return to the sport having cleared his name in the war against performance-enhancing drugs. How this win was ultimately achieved, or what it really means, is in the end neither here nor there. Whyte is back and that’s all there is to it. He is back with a win, he is back to make up for lost time, and he once again back to being mentioned as a potential opponent for some of the world’s best heavyweights.

As to which heavyweight he will eventually face, whether it be this year or the next, it’s anyone’s guess. However, Whyte, who was once desperate and had no viable choices, has now made an impressive comeback and has multiple options at his disposal.

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Joe Joyce, 16-2 (11)

Joe Joyce, who was once seen as an underdog and someone to stay away from in the heavyweight division, has now completely changed his image. The recent punches delivered by Zhilei Zhang from China have exposed Joyce’s weaknesses, making him appear less like an unstoppable force and more like a fighter who struggles to adjust or defend himself. Consequently, Joyce is now more susceptible than ever before. That is why Dillian Whyte, who is three years younger than Joyce at 35, may choose to challenge him in a fight before the “Juggernaut” encounters further setbacks.

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Joseph Parker, 35-3 (23)

The victory Whyte achieved over Parker in 2018 feels like a distant memory now. Since that time, Parker has triumphed in 11 fights, including notable wins against Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. Meanwhile, Whyte has secured six victories, with his most notable ones being a decision win against Oscar Rivas and a revengeful stoppage of Alexander Povetkin. While Parker’s 11th round defeat against Joe Joyce may not appear as catastrophic as Whyte’s sixth-round stoppage by Tyson Fury, a more accurate assessment of their current standing would be determined through a rematch between the two.

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Daniel Dubois, 20-2 (19)

Once considered too young, inexperienced, and unproven, Dubois is now seen as a worthy opponent for Whyte. Recent performances and his victory against Jarrell Miller in December have boosted Dubois’ reputation, making some believe he could defeat Whyte. Despite a previous defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, Dubois showcased growth and utilized his learnings to successfully stop Miller in the tenth round. While Whyte would undoubtedly pose a tougher challenge than Miller, Dubois sees it as a necessary step to prove himself.

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Deontay Wilder, 43-3-1 (42)

Surviving a fight with Wilder is not considered enjoyable by anyone, as it puts you at risk of a devastating blow that could leave you staring at the lights. However, it has been proven that it is possible to endure in his presence. Tyson Fury was the first to demonstrate this, and in December, Joseph Parker also showed that it is feasible to evade Wilder’s right hand for a full 12 rounds. What’s more impressive is that Parker not only avoided Wilder’s power without being hurt, but he also managed to counter with his own effective moves. This display of skill will undoubtedly boost the confidence of other heavyweight fighters. However, it should be noted that Whyte has never displayed the same level of patience and composure as Parker, nor does he appear as willing or capable of following instructions as effectively as Parker has recently.

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Martin Bakole, 20-1 (15)

Considering Whyte’s focus on high-profile fights, pay-per-view events, and his position as a prominent headliner, it is possible that he may see a potential matchup with Martin Bakole as beneath him. He might not even consider discussing or entertaining the idea. However, disregarding this fight would mean overlooking Whyte’s current standing in the heavyweight division and the progress Bakole has made with notable victories over Tony Yoka, Ihor Shevadzutskyi, and Carlos Takam. Although Bakole is not yet among the top-tier fighters, a bout between Whyte and Bakole could be a fascinating and potentially explosive crossroads fight.