Frank Warren, co-promoter for WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, believes it's a big mistake to throw Dillian Whyte right back into a rematch with Alexander Povetkin in two months time.
Last weekend, Whyte was brutally knocked out cold in the fifth round by Povetkin.
Coming in to that fight, Whyte held the WBC's interim-title and he was the mandatory challenger to Fury's title. All of that was dashed away by a single Povetkin uppercut.
Whyte has an immediate rematch clause, which he intends to exercise - and he wants the second contest to take place before the end of the year.
Whyte's promoter, Eddie Hearn, wants to stage the second fight in November.
Hearn wants the rematch to happen in a quick manner, in order for the victor to better position themselves for a shot at the WBC belt in 2021.
Warren has already spoken with the WBC, who informed the veteran promoter that once a mandatory challenger is established - then Fury will have a full year before he has to make good on that mandatory obligation.
"I’m a bit surprised they’re talking about trying to get it on in November. Straight away when you get knocked out, the British Boxing Board of Control give a [medical suspension] minimum [of] 28/30 days before you can even get back into the gym and resume sparring. But when you get a bad knockout, and that was a bad knockout, sometimes they extend that to maybe 45 days," Warren told Talk Sport.
"To be saying they’re gonna put that fight back on again in November is crazy. Anybody around Dillian Whyte, and I’m sure Dillian would fight him tomorrow, but anyone around him needs to protect him and ensure that doesn’t happen. I’m not saying that because I’m thinking, ‘Oh, if he beats Povetkin we’re back to the same situation as before [with the mandatory defense],’ because we’re not.
"The WBC have said Povetkin is twelve months down the road before Tyson has to make that mandatory defense. And even if Dillian Whyte were to beat him, that would be the same position again, so it would be twelve months down the road. That’s not why I’m saying. I’m saying they should be caring about his health."
