Dillian Whyte still believes he can take on and beat the best heavyweights on the planet. That he can scale the heights again despite being inactive for the past 16 months.

The Brixton boxer makes his return to the ring on Sunday night in Castlebar in the West of Ireland when he fights Christian Hammer (27-10-0) in front of a sold-out crowd at the TF Royal Theatre.

Whyte hasn't fought since he defeated Jermaine Franklin in November 2022. He was scheduled to fight Anthony Joshua in August but was replaced by Robert Helenius when he failed a pre-fight drugs test in the run-up to that contest.

Speaking in Castlebar today after weighing in for the Hammer fight he wasn't thinking about anything other than the future.

“I don't linger in the past, I'm not an archaeologist, I want to dig in the future,” he said. “I've been out of the ring for 16 months so it's good to be back. Half of my family are Irish, so it's nice to be fighting here.”

In recent weeks it was reported that Whyte was cleared to fight again. The 35 year old is licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

“My situation cleared up in time for me to fight on this card, so it was ideal as I was already in training,” he claimed.

“It won't be easy against Christian. He's a good guy. He's up for it. He's a tough guy and will come out swinging. We know each other well, but I want to beat him up.

“I'll fight anyone anywhere. I don't go around talking too much. Everyone has opinions [about the tests]. I know the truth. It's a long process. You have to sit back and let it play out.

“I love fighting, I enjoy boxing and getting it on. Obviously it pays my bills and allows me to take care of my family and my kids, but I also enjoy the fighting aspect of it.

“I want to fight all the top guys. Their names don't bother me. I keep fighting because I enjoy it. I believe I'm still one of the best heavyweights in the world and I believe I can beat the best guys. I've got to come out tomorrow night and take care of business in Castlebar and then whatever comes along after that. I've done it before and I have no problem doing it again.”

The prospect of fighting for a world title is also very much at the forefront of his thoughts.

“If I come back and have two wins I'm back in the top ten again,” he said. “Another two or three wins and I'm in the top three and a contender. Depending on who I fight next I could be mandatory challenger for one of the [world] titles, that's the way heavyweight boxing works. It's as simple as that.”

Whyte weighed in at 18st 5lbs. Hammer, 36, tipped the scales at 19st 7lbs.

The heavyweights clash on a card fronted by the hometown favourite Ray Moylette, a very successful amateur who won both the world super lightweight and European senior welterweight titles before turning professional.

Also on the bill are the popular Irish fighters Thomas Carty and Spike O'Sullivan, respectively fighting Pavel Sour and Sofiane Khati, on a show which will bring a carnival St Patrick's Day atmosphere to the West of Ireland.

 

Dillian Whyte 116.75kg

Christian Hammer 124.7kg

 

Ray Moylette 63.3kg

Facundo Arce (Being weighed later)

 

Spike Sullivan 73kg

Sofiane Khati 72.55kg

 

Thomas Carty 116kg

Pavel Sour 110.4kg

 

Craig O'Brien 72.9kg

Remi Scholer (Being weighed later)

 

Daniel O'Sullivan 71.4kg

Martin Balog 70.3kg