Rarely out of the news, WBC ‘interim’ heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte has confirmed he has split with long-time trainer Mark Tibbs in a surprising development.
Tibbs has been largely responsible for adding more craft and culture to the Brixton banger following his unsuccessful brawl with Anthony Joshua in December 2015.
Whyte, who meets former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin on Sky Sports Box Office on August 22, has described the split as amicable.
“Just to let everyone know, Mark Tibbs and I are no longer working together as boxer and trainer,” said Whyte on his social media platforms.
“I’m training in Portugal and Mark has a young family and his own new gym in the UK. It means it just hasn’t worked out in the way we had both hoped.
“Mark came into my team four years ago and has helped turn me into the world class boxer that I am today. Mark is a great trainer and I will always be grateful to him and his Dad [Jimmy] for all they have done.”
WBC No.1 contender Whyte also maintained that he will not entertain any step-aside deal to allow a mega-fight between WBC champion Tyson Fury and WBA Super, WBO and IBF title-holder Anthony Joshua to go ahead before his mandated shot at ‘The Gypsy King’.
“Nah, there’s to be no step-aside. I’ve waited long enough,” Whyte told The Daily Telegraph. “I’m not getting any younger, I’m getting older. I just want to be world champion and reign and unify.
“So, the sooner I can get the world title, the sooner I can go about that. So, no I’m not looking to step aside at all.”