By Jake Donovan
Dillian Whyte has spent the past several months running his mouth about how he’s the most avoided heavyweight contender in the world today.
At this point, he’s best served to do his talking in the ring given the negative statement he made at the scales.
The top-rated heavyweight from England by way of Jamaica is set for his first fight of 2019 as he collides with unbeaten Oscar Rivas this Saturday at O2 Arena in London, England. The interim version of the World Boxing Council title will be at stake, which will put the winner in direct path to challenge for the full version of the crown currently held by long-reigning champion Deontay Wilder.
Whyte has sat in the number-one ratings slot for nearly two full years, but didn’t bear the look of an athlete who stays ready for the next opportunity. The 31-year tipped the scales at a beefy and near-career heaviest 259 pounds for the occasion, more nearly 16 more pounds than Rivas who showed up at a fighting fit 239.25 pounds.
Friday’s weigh-in result puts Whyte (25-1, 18KOs) nearly 13 pounds heavier than the 246.5 pounds he weighed for his thrilling 11th round knockout of Dereck Chisora in their rematch last December. In fact, it’s the second heaviest weight of his career, having clocked in at 260 pounds for his U.S. debut in Aug. 2017, a 3rd round knockout of Malcolm Tann.
The win over Tann was meant as a stay-busy fight while waiting out a title shot versus Wilder which still has yet to materialize. Instead, he is thrown a bone in vying for the interim title with the supposed promise of a crack at Wilder should he survive his suggested rematches with Luis Ortiz and Tyson Fury.
Whyte enters Saturday’s contest having won 10 straight since a 7th round loss to Anthony Joshua when both were still unbeaten rising prospects in their Dec. 2015 clash.
In Rivas (26-0, 18KOs), he faces as live an underdog as there is on the current boxing schedule. The unbeaten Colombian—who now lives and trains in Canada—enters on the heels of a career best win, a 12th round stoppage of two-time title challenger Bryant Jennings this past January in upstate New York.
His weight issues aside, Whyte has beaten nearly every other contender there is to face on the rise to contention. Three of the wins among his current win streak have come versus heavyweights on this very card, including two over Chisora (30-9, 21KOs), who collides with fallen contender Artur Szpilka in an intriguing 10-round crossroads clash.
England’s Chisora weighed 257 pounds—more than 10 pounds heavier than his rematch with Whyte—while Poland’s Spilka (22-3, 15KOs) weighed 243 pounds, 10 heavier than when he challenged Wilder for the heavyweight title in a Jan. 2016 knockout loss.
Also on the show:
David Allen (17-4-2, 14KOs) weighed a fit and trim 241.4 pounds for his all-British battle with 2008 Olympic bronze medalist David Price, who spread a fight-ready 257 pounds across his 6’9” frame.
2016 Olympian and current unbeaten cruiserweight contender Lawrence Okolie (12-0, 9KOs) weighed 199.25 for his fourth straight fight, this coming versus Argentina’s Mariano Angel Gudino (13-2), who weighed 199.6 pounds for their scheduled 10-round contest.
All four bouts will air live on Sky Box Office in the United Kingdom and stream live on DAZN-USA in the U.S.
WEIGHTS
Dllian Whyte 259 lbs. vs. Oscar Rivas 239.25 lbs.—12 rds, heavyweight
David Allen 241.4 lbs. vs. David Price 257 lbs.—12 rds, heavyweight
Dereck Chisora 257 lbs. vs. Artur Szpilka 243 lbs.—10 rds, heavyweight
Lawrence Okolie 199.25 lbs. vs. Mariana Angel Gudino 199.6 lbs.—10 rds, cruiserweight
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
