Dillian Whyte has revealed that he was offered rematches with Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker but embraced the ‘risk’ of a Moses Itauma fight.
The former WBC interim champion has agreed to face red-hot heavyweight prospect Itauma in Saudi Arabia on August 16.
But Whyte has admitted that he also discussed potential fights against long-term British rival Joshua and New Zealander Parker.
“You know what, I got offered three names, AJ, Parker and Moses Itauma,” Whyte exclusively told Sky Sports.
“These guys were messing about, Parker was being greedy, they didn’t want to be realistic on the split. AJ wasn’t ready, obviously they’re trying to keep their options open, I’m options for no one.
“I think Moses Itauma, no one wants to fight him. My whole career has been, I’ve always taken the fights that no one wanted to take and nothing’s changed now. It’s an opportunity, it’s a great opportunity. Win this fight, I’m right back like I never left.
Watch Whyte’s knockout wins but they get more brutal
“Everyone’s scared of him, all these other supposed hard man heavyweights who pride themselves on being hard fighting anyone, they’re running scared from fighting this guy.
“We’re in the business to fight, we’re in the business to entertain, we’re in the business to give the fans a good fight.”
Joshua, who has not fought since a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last September, has required surgery on a troublesome elbow.
Parker, whose promoters offered no comment in response to Whyte’s claims when contacted by Sky Sports News, is yet to announce his next fight after a stoppage win over Martin Bakole in February.
“I would have loved to fight AJ again because he’s the only one in that list that beat me before,” said Whyte.
“I’ve beaten him once [in the amateur ranks], he’s beaten me once, I’d love to fight him again. But AJ, his injuries and his surgery and stuff, they didn’t know if he was going to be ready.
“He wasn’t going to be ready, so I was like: ‘Okay, I’m not going to wait around.’
Whyte said he would have loved to fight Anthony Joshua, but the latter was ‘not ready’ due to injury
“The Joseph Parker fight, it’s Parker being greedy. When I fought him years ago, he was kind of on a losing streak.
“I gave him a certain split, I was fair and I was just. And then he’s being greedy.
“And I was like: ‘Do you want to fight someone who’s actually beaten you or are you just in it for the money?’ And clearly, he’s just in it for the money.
‘So I said: ‘Okay, all right, no worries.
“Then with Moses, I was like: ‘Hell yeah, I’ll definitely take the fight.’
Speaking on the Toe2Toe podcast, promoter Frank Warren talked up a potential Itauma vs Whyte clash
Asked if he could still face Joshua again in the future, Whyte said: “I don’t know and I don’t really care to be honest. I’m not 27, I haven’t got time to be sitting around waiting for these guys.
“I’ve always known to fight the best fighters in my era, and everyone’s raving about Moses Itauma, saying he’s the best fighter since Mike Tyson.
“If I can go up against him and beat him then what does that say about me? I’ve always been a risk taker, man.
“It’s just another one of those things that makes sense to me. People might think I’m crazy or I’m stupid, like some of these guys have been saying, but I have a different mindset, a different approach.
“I was a born sufferer and I’ve been a lifetime sufferer. So for me, it’s nothing to take risks. I’d rather take a risk and fail than just sit there thinking about it.”
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
US Open 2025 live updates: Quarterfinals scores, results with Venus Williams defeated, Vondrousova withdraws vs. Sabalenka
Markéta Vondroušová, who was in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2024 French Open, has come through multiple surgeries to return to challenging the best players in the world.She first had a wrist operation in 2019, while last year, she had shoulder surgery. In between those, she won the 2023 Wimbledon title, becoming the first unseeded player to win the tournament.In an interview at this year’s French Open, Vondroušová said that she could not swing a racket following her surgery in 2024. She would try to play and the pain would return. So she and her physio devised a strategy to get her back onto the court, doing hours of physical therapy without hitting a single ball.Then, she came back, and won two matches in Roland Garros, including an upset of the seeded Magdalena Fręch. At this year’s U.S. […]
Fã de Ronaldo, Yago Dora faz penteado ‘Cascão’ para comemorar título mundial de surfe
-- Eu cresci com as memórias do Ronaldo jogando na seleção brasileira. Quando eu era criança, o Brasil ganhou o penta e essa memória ficou marcada na minha cabeça. Sempre foi meu jogador favorito. Eu acho o futebol um esporte muito bonito. Eu adoro assistir. É um pouco mais difícil assistir agora que a gente tem de estar a cada hora do lado do mundo, com os horários diferentes, então ficou um pouco mais difícil de acompanhar, mas quando era mais novo acompanhava tudo e sempre fui fanzaço do Ronaldo do jeito que ele jogava. E eu há dois anos. Atrás eu quis mudar o número da minha laica para 9, porque acho que o 9 representa isso, o cara que chega ali na hora importante e define o jogo e faz as coisas acontecerem. Eu queria isso para a […]
Buccaneers agree to four-year, $90 million extension with OT Luke Goedeke: Sources
By Jeff Howe, Dan Pompei and Bob HarkinsThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a four-year, $90 million extension with offensive tackle Luke Goedeke, multiple league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday.The deal, which was first reported by NFL Media, includes $50 million in guaranteed money. The average annual value of $22.5 million is tied for the 11th highest among offensive tackles, and trails only Penei Sewell ($28 million) and Lane Johnson ($25 million) among right tackles, per Spotrac. It also passed the four-year, $88 million extension right tackle Zach Tom received from the Packers earlier this offseason.AdvertisementGoedeke, 26, is entering his fourth year in the league after being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has played in 41 games in his first three seasons, starting 38. Bucs again take care of […]
Venus Williams’ U.S. Open doubles with Leylah Fernandez runs into Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez’s run at the U.S. Open women’s doubles championship came to a screeching halt Tuesday. They lost 6-1, 6-2 to top seed Taylor Townsend and Kateřina Siniaková in the quarterfinals in Louis Armstrong Stadium. It ends a remarkable tournament for Williams and Fernandez, who first played doubles together last week.AdvertisementRight from the first ball, Townsend and Siniaková were locked in. They started the match with an early break, punishing Williams’ serve with precise volleys. Townsend and Siniaková raced to a 4-0 lead, winning 12 of the first 13 points, before winning the first set 6-1 in 22 minutes.In the second set, down 0-1, Williams and Fernandez had game points to get a hold and stay within striking distance. But Williams recorded a double fault. Then, Fernandez hit a forehand volley in the […]
Where does Bill Belichick’s first game at UNC rank among the most embarrassing sports debuts?
The backdrop for Bill Belichick’s postgame press conference on Monday night featured a tacky blue and white balloon arch better suited for a gender reveal party.It was a hilariously tone-deaf setting given how disastrous Belichick’s college football coaching debut with North Carolina had been.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNorth Carolina’s 48-14 home loss to TCU began encouragingly enough. The Tar Heels carved up the Horned Frogs for 83 yards and a touchdown on their opening possession and forced a three-and-out on defense.[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]To say that it was all TCU from there is the ultimate understatement. North Carolina surrendered 41 straight points and was outgained 542-222. By the start of the fourth quarter, Kenan Memorial Stadium was already half-empty and TCU football’s official Twitter account was roasting Belichick and the Tar Heels.A home drubbing at […]
Sabalenková lituje zdrcenou Vondroušovou: Vím, jak hrozně ji to musí bolet
Vondroušová se po vleklých zdravotních problémech konečně dostala do své top formy a experti jí po spanilé jízdě newyorským grandslamem dávali více než solidní šance i do utkání proti nejlepší hráčce WTA Sabalenkové.Necelé dvě hodiny před startem night session na Arthur Ashe Stadium však vyšla najevo smutná zpráva o odstoupení Vondroušové z turnaje, když ji do hry nepustilo zraněné koleno a po konzultaci s turnajovým doktorem se rozhodla neriskovat zhoršení zranění.„Markéty je mi moc líto, obzvlášť po tom, čím vším si prošla. Hrála tu fantastický tenis a vím, jak hrozně moc ji to musí bolet. Opatruj se a doufám, že budeš brzy v pořádku,“ přispěchala s reakcí Sabalenková ve svém instagramovém příběhu. Běloruska se v semifinále střetne s domácí Jessicou Pegulaovou, jež ve čtvrtfinále vyřadila Barboru Krejčíkovou.Foto: Instagram Aryny SabalenkovéVyjádření Aryny Sabalenkové k odstoupení Markéty Vondroušové z US OpenChvíli nato se fanouškům na sociálních sítích ozvala také zdrcená Vondroušová. „Láme mi srdce, že dneska […]
Related
US Open 2025 live updates: Quarterfinals scores, results with Venus Williams defeated, Vondrousova withdraws vs. Sabalenka
Markéta Vondroušová, who was in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since the 2024 French Open, has come through multiple surgeries to return to challenging the best players in the world.She first had a wrist operation in 2019, while last year, she had shoulder surgery. In between those, she won the 2023 Wimbledon title, becoming the first unseeded player to win the tournament.In an interview at this year’s French Open, Vondroušová said that she could not swing a racket following her surgery in 2024. She would try to play and the pain would return. So she and her physio devised a strategy to get her back onto the court, doing hours of physical therapy without hitting a single ball.Then, she came back, and won two matches in Roland Garros, including an upset of the seeded Magdalena Fręch. At this year’s U.S. […]
Fã de Ronaldo, Yago Dora faz penteado ‘Cascão’ para comemorar título mundial de surfe
-- Eu cresci com as memórias do Ronaldo jogando na seleção brasileira. Quando eu era criança, o Brasil ganhou o penta e essa memória ficou marcada na minha cabeça. Sempre foi meu jogador favorito. Eu acho o futebol um esporte muito bonito. Eu adoro assistir. É um pouco mais difícil assistir agora que a gente tem de estar a cada hora do lado do mundo, com os horários diferentes, então ficou um pouco mais difícil de acompanhar, mas quando era mais novo acompanhava tudo e sempre fui fanzaço do Ronaldo do jeito que ele jogava. E eu há dois anos. Atrás eu quis mudar o número da minha laica para 9, porque acho que o 9 representa isso, o cara que chega ali na hora importante e define o jogo e faz as coisas acontecerem. Eu queria isso para a […]
Buccaneers agree to four-year, $90 million extension with OT Luke Goedeke: Sources
By Jeff Howe, Dan Pompei and Bob HarkinsThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a four-year, $90 million extension with offensive tackle Luke Goedeke, multiple league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday.The deal, which was first reported by NFL Media, includes $50 million in guaranteed money. The average annual value of $22.5 million is tied for the 11th highest among offensive tackles, and trails only Penei Sewell ($28 million) and Lane Johnson ($25 million) among right tackles, per Spotrac. It also passed the four-year, $88 million extension right tackle Zach Tom received from the Packers earlier this offseason.AdvertisementGoedeke, 26, is entering his fourth year in the league after being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has played in 41 games in his first three seasons, starting 38. Bucs again take care of […]
Venus Williams’ U.S. Open doubles with Leylah Fernandez runs into Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez’s run at the U.S. Open women’s doubles championship came to a screeching halt Tuesday. They lost 6-1, 6-2 to top seed Taylor Townsend and Kateřina Siniaková in the quarterfinals in Louis Armstrong Stadium. It ends a remarkable tournament for Williams and Fernandez, who first played doubles together last week.AdvertisementRight from the first ball, Townsend and Siniaková were locked in. They started the match with an early break, punishing Williams’ serve with precise volleys. Townsend and Siniaková raced to a 4-0 lead, winning 12 of the first 13 points, before winning the first set 6-1 in 22 minutes.In the second set, down 0-1, Williams and Fernandez had game points to get a hold and stay within striking distance. But Williams recorded a double fault. Then, Fernandez hit a forehand volley in the […]
Where does Bill Belichick’s first game at UNC rank among the most embarrassing sports debuts?
The backdrop for Bill Belichick’s postgame press conference on Monday night featured a tacky blue and white balloon arch better suited for a gender reveal party.It was a hilariously tone-deaf setting given how disastrous Belichick’s college football coaching debut with North Carolina had been.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNorth Carolina’s 48-14 home loss to TCU began encouragingly enough. The Tar Heels carved up the Horned Frogs for 83 yards and a touchdown on their opening possession and forced a three-and-out on defense.[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]To say that it was all TCU from there is the ultimate understatement. North Carolina surrendered 41 straight points and was outgained 542-222. By the start of the fourth quarter, Kenan Memorial Stadium was already half-empty and TCU football’s official Twitter account was roasting Belichick and the Tar Heels.A home drubbing at […]
Sabalenková lituje zdrcenou Vondroušovou: Vím, jak hrozně ji to musí bolet
Vondroušová se po vleklých zdravotních problémech konečně dostala do své top formy a experti jí po spanilé jízdě newyorským grandslamem dávali více než solidní šance i do utkání proti nejlepší hráčce WTA Sabalenkové.Necelé dvě hodiny před startem night session na Arthur Ashe Stadium však vyšla najevo smutná zpráva o odstoupení Vondroušové z turnaje, když ji do hry nepustilo zraněné koleno a po konzultaci s turnajovým doktorem se rozhodla neriskovat zhoršení zranění.„Markéty je mi moc líto, obzvlášť po tom, čím vším si prošla. Hrála tu fantastický tenis a vím, jak hrozně moc ji to musí bolet. Opatruj se a doufám, že budeš brzy v pořádku,“ přispěchala s reakcí Sabalenková ve svém instagramovém příběhu. Běloruska se v semifinále střetne s domácí Jessicou Pegulaovou, jež ve čtvrtfinále vyřadila Barboru Krejčíkovou.Foto: Instagram Aryny SabalenkovéVyjádření Aryny Sabalenkové k odstoupení Markéty Vondroušové z US OpenChvíli nato se fanouškům na sociálních sítích ozvala také zdrcená Vondroušová. „Láme mi srdce, že dneska […]
Be the first to leave a comment