Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte preview: Expect Wembley to serve up another classic
- Ryan Allan
- 22 April 2022
Following a less than thrilling build-up, Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte finally get it on this Saturday with Fury’s WBC and Ring Magazine titles up for grabs in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium.
In front of a record-breaking 94,000 expectant fans, Fury and Whyte will come together for what should prove to be an intriguing and potentially explosive heavyweight title contest in London.
While the build-up to this heavyweight showdown has been a major disappointment with Whyte refusing to participate in any pre-fight press conferences until this week, fight fans should be treated to a brilliant fight come Saturday with Whyte very much deserving of his shot at all the glory.
Mandatory challenger for the WBC belt for nigh on five years, Whyte, 28-2 in his eleven-year professional career, boasts an impressive resume with wins against top contenders including Oscar Rivas, Joseph Parker, Dereck Chisora and Alexander Povetkin.
Now at the age of 34, it could well be now or never for Whyte, who is a huge underdog going into the bout.
But what can we expect come fight time tomorrow?
Fury, the self-anointed Gypsy King, looks to be in good condition despite the now customary excess flab over the waistline. Indeed, as Lennox Lewis surmised, Fury's condition is best determined by the appearance of his face, not the weight on his belly.
Focused and typically rough and ready, Fury enters the bout on the back of a thrilling eleventh round KO victory against Deontay Wilder last October, and while there has been talk of retirement, we should still expect the same aggressive and come-forward approach from the Manchester-born unbeaten champion.
Whyte, returning to the ring following his rematch victory against Alexander Povetkin in March of 2021, finally made an appearance at Wednesday's pre-fight press conference and, despite having everything stacked against him, looks unphased by the scale of the occasion.
Known as the Body Snatcher for good reason, the Jamaican-born Brit boasts a brilliant left-hook, and while he has already suffered a pair of losses at the hands of Anthony Joshua and the aforementioned Povetkin, Whyte has enough skill and will to give The Furious One plenty of fighting headaches.
He may not be nearly as skilled as the champion, but Whyte is a far more technically proficient boxer when compared to Deontay Wilder. Boasting a high ring IQ, the Brixton man has the craft to match any in-ring adjustments made by the always unpredictable Fury.
But how much does the great Gypsy King have left in the tank?
While commended for his back and forth win against Wilder, Fury ate a lot of leather on that particular night, tasting the canvas twice. It remains to be seen if those bouts with the former WBC champion have aged Fury beyond his peak years.
Sometimes, a champion ages in just one night, and it's not out of the question that a Fury, with retirement on his mind, could be somewhat less than the fighting behemoth witnessed in his recent wins against the Bronze Bomber.
What's been said?
Respectful of his opponent's ability, Fury was in candid form at Wednesday's much more amicable press conference than many had anticipated.
"We've had a great preparation. There are never any complaints from me. We always do what we can do in training camps and do the best that we can do on the night. I'm sure Dillian Whyte's had a great training camp as well.
"He's a good fighting man. The fans are in for a real treat. I know Dillian. I know him personally, and he knows me. And we're going to rock n' roll on fight night. We're ready to throw down and treat us all to a hell of a barnstorm."
Whyte was equally effusive in discussing Saturday's upcoming bout.
.@DillianWhyte is a survivor.
— #FuryWhyte | Saturday | BT Sport Box Office 🥊 (@BTSportBoxing) April 18, 2022
"I learnt to be tough. I learnt to be resilient. I never thought I'd be here."
An incredible journey 👏#FuryWhyte
"It means everything to me to be fighting in my home country, and especially because it's for the world title at Wembley.
"It's not too far from where I'm from. It means everything. It's massive. It's a moment I've been waiting for. It's a big fight. Like Tyson said, we didn't expect to be here. But I'm here, but I've taken risks time and time again.
"I've had a couple (of) slipups along the way, but I'm here and I'm ready to go. You won't hear any bullsh*t from me. I'm ready to go."
Where and when?
Tyson Fury will defend his heavyweight titles at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, April 23rd. Ring walks are scheduled for around 22:00 BST or just after.
What's on the line?
All the marbles. Fury's WBC and Ring Magazine Heavyweight titles will be on the line at Wembley as well as lineal status.
Where can I watch it?
The bout will headline on BT Sport Box Office with the undercard kicking off the action at 18:00 BST. US viewers can watch the fight on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
Tale of the Tape
Name: Tyson Fury
Age: 34
Nickname: The Gypsy King
Residence: Morecambe, UK
Pre-fight record: 31-0-1
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6ft 9"
Reach: 85"
Rounds Boxed: 204
KO Percentage: 69%
Name: Dillian Whyte
Age: 34
Nickname: The Body Snatcher
Residence: Brixton, London,
Pre-fight record: 30-2
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6ft 4"
Reach: 78"
Rounds Boxed: 164
KO Percentage: 63%
Where's the value?
Fighting at home in the UK for the first time since 2018, Fury is expected to retain his titles inside the distance, according to the odds.
Two men that always come to fight, a distance affair seems unlikely with both expected to trade leather early in the bout in what is sure to be a high-octane occasion in front of a boisterous Wembley crowd.
As such, we like the chances of this fight going under 8.5 rounds. Both are capable of landing serious bombs, and a dull affair seems pretty unlikely given both men's recent fighting history.
Two curious yet likeable and engaging men, Fury and Whyte, have experienced remarkable lives. Both are remarkably candid and convincing in their characters, and anyone expecting an easy night's work for the champion should be dissolved of that notion fairly rapidly.
Whyte has more than enough to get the Gypsy King's attention, particularly if Fury has let the glory of his trilogy triumph against Wilder go to his head.
Yet somehow, an upset remains unlikely.
A unique yet brilliant champion, Fury has been written off on so many occasions in the past decade but has continued to confide the critics with a now impressive thirty-two fight unbeaten career. Rising from the canvas in both his first and third bouts with Wilder, there can be little doubt that this Gypsy warrior is made of granite, both in bone and bravery.
Even if Whyte is able to hurt Fury, there remains the expectation that the champion will inevitably rise from the count. Always composed, Fury has continually demonstrated his ability to take a man's best shot before closing the show.
It's hard not to expect something similar on Saturday, even in the face of a dangerous Whyte.
Ultimately, with the greater pedigree, weight, height, and reach, the Gyspy giant remains a solid looking bet to claim a KO victory although the Body Snatcher remains a live and dangerous opponent who is more than capable of getting to Fury, particularly in those first few rounds.
Don't take your eyes off this one, folks. We could be in for a heavyweight classic come Saturday night.
Prediction: Fury to win by KO - Round 7
