DILLIAN WHYTE’S shock knockout defeat against Alexander Povetkin could prove to be “a godsend”, Johnny Nelson has predicted.
Whyte, 32, had spent more than 1,000 days as the WBC’s No1 challenger before his mandatory status went up in smoke following his upset loss.
Dillian Whyte was knocked out by Alexander Povetkin – but it could be a godsend, says Johnny Nelson
But his past frustrations having been unable to fight heavyweight rulers Tyson Fury, 32, and Anthony Joshua, 30, could now be over.
Former cruiserweight world champ Nelson believes the top heavyweights may now be more encouraged to fight Whyte.
He told talkSPORT: “I actually think it might be a good thing.
“Now, after being knocked out, other fighters will think that’s twice now at this level.
“That’s the same shot that he’s been knocked out with – I’ll have some of that.
“So that vulnerability makes him more enticing. The same thing with Anthony Joshua after Andy Ruiz made him look more enticing.
“If and when Tyson Fury loses, once you see the blueprint to beating somebody, then it’s like ‘ahhh, there you go!’
“There’s no blueprint for Fury right now, but when somebody finds it, things will get interesting.
“But I think for Dillian Whyte, him losing might actually be a godsend because when he was winning and winning and winning, people thought ‘nah, I don’t want any of that.’”
Johnny Nelson believes heavyweights may be more encouraged to fight Whyte now
Anthony Joshua is the united heavyweight champion
Whyte was mandatory challenger for Tyson Fury’s title
Whyte will get his crack at redemption on November 21 after exercising his rematch clause.
A win for the heavyweight contender again lines him up with the chance to fight unbeaten Fury.
But the Gypsy King has already verbally agreed a two-fight deal with WBA, IBF and WBO king Joshua for 2021.
Tony Bellew says Dillian Whyte will one day lift the heavyweight championship as rematch with Alexander Povetkin set for November 21
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
