Boxing

DILLIAN WHYTE is out for redemption in a pair of rematches against Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. The British heavyweight returns on Saturday against unbeaten American Jermaine Franklin.
Anthony Joshua beat Dillian Whyte in 2015Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Tyson Fury knocked out Dillian WhyteCredit: Getty
It is his first fight since a knockout loss to Fury in April, failing in his challenge for the WBC title.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has dangled a fight with Joshua, the man who Whyte lost to in 2015, as the reward for the weekend’s winner.
That would fall right into Whyte’s plan, as he looks to secure revenge on Fury and AJ, like he did in his rematch KO against Alexander Povetkin.
Whyte said: “I want to become heavyweight champion of the world, and I’d love to get the opportunity to avenge my two losses.
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“I’ve already avenged one; I’d love to get the opportunity to avenge the other two.”
Joshua, 33, is primed to return early next year having taken a break following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 35.
And Whyte, 34, remains the most likely candidate to welcome his old rival back, should he beat Franklin, 29, at Wembley Arena.
But Hearn named Deontay Wilder, 37, Joe Joyce, 37, and Daniel Dubois, 24, among the other options that lay in await for Whyte.
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He told The Metro: “The winner of the Franklin fight is probably frontrunner to take on Anthony Joshua in the first fight of 2023.
“He wants to fight Deontay Wilder, he would love another crack at Fury, he wants Usyk, Joyce, Dubois.
“You’ve got four or five fights left, really, and he just wants to face all of those guys, but he needs to have a big win against Franklin and he needs to impress and show he has a lot left.”
Dillian Whyte, promoter Eddie Hearn and Jermaine FranklinCredit: Getty More

TYSON FURY’S undisputed super-fight against Oleksandr Usyk has been given the green light by the WBC. The pair of unbeaten heavyweight champions are already being lined up for the division’s first four-belt unification bout next year.
Tyson Fury’s undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk has been given the green light by the WBCCredit: Getty
Oleksandr Usyk is in talks to fight Tyson Fury next yearCredit: EPA
And the WBC will be in support of it while already ordering Deontay Wilder, 37, to face Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, in a final eliminator.
It means the winner of the all-American showdown would be in line to challenge for the undisputed title.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Sky Sports: “There has been real interest in having Fury against Usyk take place.
“That would be a great possibility and then the winner would have to fight the WBC mandatory once that is confirmed.”
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Usyk, 35, is ready to return next year following consecutive points wins over Anthony Joshua, 33.
Meanwhile Fury, 34, faces Derek Chisora, 38, on December 3 in a trilogy bout against the man he beat in 2011 and 2014.
It is set to give the Gypsy King valuable ring time ahead of his proposed unficiation with Usyk next year, eyed for Saudi Arabia.
But the IBF threw a spanner in the works when they ordered Filip Hrgovic, 30, to challenge for Usyk’s belt.

Fury vs Chisora 3: Date, live stream and TV info for huge heavyweight bout
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There is still hope the undisputed bout will supersede the mandatory challenge, something the WBC has always been in favour of.
Sulaiman said: “The WBC has been extremely supportive of unification bouts.
“We supported back then Wilder against Joshua, it didn’t happen.
“Then we supported when the time could be for Fury against Joshua again and then we support Fury against Usyk.
“If it happens it will be a tremendous fight for the world and the WBC is supportive of that as long as the rights of the mandatory contender are not infringed.
“So the timing right now looks very good for that to happen.”
Sulaiman also confirmed the winner between Wilder and Ruiz will have the right to fight for the belt, currently held by Fury.
He said: “That fight should prove to be a great, great match and then a very solid mandatory contender for the WBC.”
Deontay Wilder is in line for a WBC final eliminator beltCredit: Getty More

TYSON FURY admits his Morecambe mansion might be full of Derek Chisora fans when they clash for a third time next week.The 34-year-old WBC Gypsy King defends his crown against the 38-year-old he has already beaten twice at the Tottenham Stadium on December 3.
Tyson Fury has six children with long-time wife ParisCredit: Instagram
Derek Chisora will be hoping to cause a huge upset against FuryCredit: Splash
And the undefeated father-of-six revealed Chisora’s fearless 33-12 record – and reputation for fighting the biggest and baddest men of his era – means all of his kids usually cheer for his rival.
The 6ft 9in showman said: “Everytime he fights I cheer for Derek, all my kids are Derek Chisora fans, they have all grown up watching him.
“It’s hard not to like him because, in this country, the man has become a folk hero.
“On December 3 it will probably p*** down – and everyone will get wet – but it will still be a great night.”
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Fury outboxed Del Boy to a points win in 2011 and peppered him with digs in 2014 until he retired on his stool.
But since his first stoppage win over Deontay Wilder in 2020, Fury has become a power puncher who can flatten stars like the Bronze Bomber and Dillian Whyte.
And he admits that shootout style could play into the Zimbabwe-born brawler’s giant hands.
“I think it gives him a better chance,” he said. “Years ago I used to box behind my jab and people found it very hard to hit me.
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“But, if you look at my last few fights, people have found it easy to hit me and I have had to get up off the floor a good few times.
“There were 10 knockdowns between me and Wilder in that trilogy, that’s a lot.
“I am being hit more than ever but I am also doing more damage with my punches.”
Chisora – who has lost three of his last four fights – has been written off by the majority of British boxing fans and been made the 11-1 underdog by most bookies.
But he points to Leicester’s 5,000-1 Premier League title win as proof longshot dreams do still come true and you only need a puncher’s chance.
“In this country we have this problem where we write people off,” Chisora said.
“A few years ago we said Leicester didn’t have a chance and then they won it and people were shocked.
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“People kept saying how if you would have bet on Leicester on this day or that day that you would have won £100,000.
“It’s the same with this fight. You never know who has got a chance.”
Fury knocked Whyte out in the sixth round of their heavyweight clash in AprilCredit: Getty More