BOXING promoter Eddie Hearn believes that Dilian Whyte should become new WBC heavyweight champion, should there be an “issue” with current belt holder Tyson Fury.
It is alleged that in 2015, the Gypsy King’s team offered farmer Martin Carefoot £25,000 in return for a signed testimony stating that the 31-year-old failed his 2015 drugs test because of eating wild boar.
The allegations, having featured in the Mail on Sunday, could lead to an eight-year ban if Fury is found guilty, but have been dismissed as “outrageous” by promoter Frank Warren.
Hearn, however, believes that it is a situation that Whyte should be monitoring closely.
And the 40-year-old told Sky Sports: “As I understand, it’s going to be looked into by UKAD, I guess the truth will come out in the wash.
“As I understand it, the key witness in the case has come out and effectively changed his statements of what happened.
“I’ll let them deal with that. If I’m Dillian Whyte right now, I’m looking at that situation, knowing that if there is an issue with Tyson Fury as world champion, I become the WBC heavyweight world champion, because right now, he was suspended while an investigation was taking place.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out.”
Whyte became WBC mandatory challenger in December after being cleared by UK Anti-Doping himself, and is owed a shot at the title by 2021.
When I called him, he asked for money. I told him to clear off and get in contact with UKAD. He chose not to speak to UKAD but instead speak to a newspaper.
Frank Warren
Fury’s promoter Warren, however, has rubbished the claims in a statement: “The farmer making these outrageous allegations sent me a letter last October, full of errors and basically telling me he had committed perjury by signing statements under oath and lying.
“When I called him, he asked for money. I told him to clear off and get in contact with UKAD. He chose not to speak to UKAD but instead speak to a newspaper.
“How anybody can take this man seriously is beyond belief. Tyson has never met this man in his life. What a load of rubbish. We’ll leave this with UKAD to look into and don’t expect it to go any further.”
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman also weighed in on the matter: “The WBC does not act on gossip or media postings, unless a formal claim is presented then the WBC can intervene on any matter, and I’m not referring specifically to this matter about Fury.
“As far as The WBC is concerned, Fury has passed countless tests in the past two years when he has been fighting under The WBC umbrella.
“My personal opinion is that I would question the credibility that such alleged witness has, as he came out and admitted getting money to tell lies.
“Tyson Fury is the WBC heavyweight champion and has absolute support from our organisation.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
