Whyte vs. Allen Set For July 30 In Leeds, WBC International At Stake

By Elliot Foster

Dillian Whyte has had his opponent confirmed ahead of his next fight.

The Brixton heavyweight, who is a co-challenger to the vacant British title, is set to return to the ring in three weeks.

Whyte (17-1, 14 KOs), 28, was scheduled to tick-over in Leeds, at the First Direct Arena, on July 30, exclusively live on Sky Sports before taking on the challenge for the domestic crown in the autumn.

But the fight on the undercard of Josh Warrington’s WBC International featherweight title defence against former world title challenger Patrick Hyland has now been brought up a level after it was announced that Dave Allen, the 24-year-old Conisbrough heavyweight (9-0-1, 6 KOs) who the British Boxing Board of Control knocked back as an opponent for the vacant British title showdown with Whyte, will be in the opposite corner on the night.

The pair will do battle for the vacant WBC International heavyweight title, which was left behind by Anthony Joshua when he was crowned the IBF world champion.

Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed, also, that a fresh appeal had been lodged with the Board of Control to get this fight, now that it has been made, sanctioned for what many believe is the most prestigious belt in the sport –– that aforementioned Lonsdale belt –– which has been inactive since Joshua stopped Whyte to win it last December.

Whyte was last in action on June 25 when he stopped former Tony Bellew victim Ivica Bacurin in the sixth of eight scheduled rounds and Allen hasn't boxed since March when he retired veteran American Jason Gavern in the fourth of six rounds.

The vacant WBC Silver lightweight title showdown between Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell and former IBF super-featherweight world champion Argenis Mendez will provide the chief supporting contest on the bill while the undercard is stacked with talent as British bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett defends his WBC International crown and former WBA Continental champion Tommy Martin returns from defeat.

Elsewhere, Tyrone Nurse and Tommy Coyle meet in a mouthwatering super-lightweight clash for the former’s prestigious British title, Frankie Gavin and Sam Eggington feature in separate contests ahead of a local derby in Birmingham in October and Gamal Yafai defends his Commonwealth bantamweight title against former British super-bantamweight title challenger Josh Wale.

And there is action for Darren Tetley, Connor Seymour and former Team GB star Felix Cash, while Jake Ball and Reece Mould will look to keep up their undefeated runs alongside Commonwealth Games gold medallist Scott Fitzgerald.