The clock is ticking down for Dillian Whyte as the deadline approaches for him to sign the contract to face Tyson Fury in April.
Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions won the purse bid to stage the world heavyweight title showdown with an all-time record bid of more than $41million.
The terms of the purse bid stipulate that Fury will receive more than $29million for defending his WBC title – along with the Ring magazine and lineal titles, with Whyte set to pocket more than $7million. The remaining $4million would go to the winner of the bout.
Whyte contract deadline
As of yet though Whyte has yet to agree to the deal, which would end his long long wait to challenge for a world heavyweight title, having spent years in the mandatory position. Reports suggest he must sign by Monday February 21.
Last time Whyte came this close, he lost the opportunity in the ring – being knocked out by Alexander Povetkin at Matchroom Fight Camp in August 2020. He avenged that defeat last March and regained the WBC mandatory spot in the process.
It is believed that Whyte wants a bigger slice of the purse for his planned showdown with Fury – which appears to be tentatively pencilled in for Saturday April 23. The bout would be a PPV on BT Sport Box Office in the UK, and would be carried by ESPN in the United States. A stadium in the UK is likely to host the fight, with London and Cardiff the favourites.
Fury has repeatedly called out Whyte in recent days, referencing that looming deadline and telling the ‘Body Snatcher’ to sign on the dotted line.
. @Tyson_Fury has another message for Dillian Whyte ????
???? : Tyson Fury pic.twitter.com/qC2UXns9q5
— Boxing on BT Sport ???? (@BTSportBoxing) February 16, 2022
Heavyweight landscape
Fury goes into the bout knowing that victory could re-ignited hopes of a massive all-British unification showdown with Anthony Joshua. That also of course depends on Joshua defeating Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch (likely in May) to regain the IBF, WBA and WBO titles he lost last September.
Whyte of course also has the chance to ruin that script and potentially set up the chance for revenge vs Joshua. Whyte suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of AJ back in 2015.
