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Dillian Whyte Blasts Heavyweight “Cowards” as Kubrat Pulev Negotiations Stall

Written by Rob Tebbutt on 23rd May 2018.

Dillian Whyte wants to go to war again

Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte(23-1-0, 17 KO’s) has lashed out at potential opponent Kubrat Pulev(25-1-0, 13 KO’s), after accusing the Bulgarian of “wasting time” ahead of a proposed IBF mandatory clash between the two men.

Whyte, who was last seen in action when knocking out former WBA ‘Regular’ champion Lucas Browne in February, has been chasing the elite competitors in the division as he sets his eyes on World titles by the end of 2018.

Whyte destroyed former World champion Lucas Browne in his last outing, but has his eyes set on World titles in 2018.

Despite holding a lofty ranking with all governing bodies, Whyte is yet to be granted a shot at World honours. After the IBF recently called for the Brixton man to face off against Pulev in a final eliminator, Whyte has become frustrated with the lack of movement on the bout, claiming Pulev and the rest of the heavyweight division are “cowards” for not wishing to face him.

“Pulev doesn’t want to fight.” Whyte told Sky Sports.

“He gets in these positions to fight mandatories, or gets in these eliminators and doesn’t want to fight.”

“I think he was hoping that, I said I was going to go for (Luis) Ortiz, and then he could fight (Alexander) Dimitrenko, which was the next one down.”

“He’s just wasting time, it’s a straightforward fight, the winner gets a crack at the big apple. I’m up for the fight, he says he’s up for the fight. He said I’m the perfect opponent for him. Well for some reason, him and [promoter] Kalle (Sauerland) are taking long.”

“I hate heavyweight boxing. It’s full of cowards.” he finished.

Kubrat Pulev has only lost once, to former heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschko in November 2014.

The delay is the latest in a long list of disappointments for ‘The Bodysnatcher’, who after claiming the WBC Silver title with a lopsided decision victory over Robert Helenius in October 2017, had hoped for a shot at WBC World champion Deontay Wilder. However, the bout failed to materialise, with Wilder reportedly turning down a career-high payday to face Whyte, opting to defend against mandatory challenger Bermane Stiverne.

With a date of July 28th mooted for his return to the ring, the 30-year-old is expecting a swift resolution to negotiations with Pulev, with purse bids to come on the 24th May.

“Well the purse bid is this Thursday, so regardless either way, we’ll find out in the next couple of days what’s going on, or whether Pulev is man enough to take the fight or not.

“Hopefully we can reach some sort of deal, and get it arranged, and get it done, because the date is already pencilled in, July 28.”

After growing frustrated with what he perceives as boxing politics from the WBC, Whyte appears to now be focused on taking the IBF route for his crack at a World title.

An added incentive to the IBF route for Whyte would be, of course, arch-rival Anthony Joshua being in possession of the belt. With the two men sharing well-known acrimony in the build-up to their December 2015 British and Commonwealth title bout (a bout that yielded Whyte’s only defeat), a rematch with Joshua with World honours at stake would be a huge sell in the U.K.

Whyte’s promoter Eddie Hearn has also held recent talks with the WBC, after another former Joshua victim, Dominic Breazeale, was installed as mandatory challenger for Wilder’s title, despite Whyte’s status as the number one contender. It is a move that did not sit well with Whyte and he lambasted the governing body in a recent Twitter outburst.

“The IBF seem to be quite strict with their mandatories,” said Whyte. “I’m still pursuing the WBC route, but there seems to be some sort of nonsense going on there, so everything is up in the air at the minute.

“I’m just waiting to see what’s going on with the WBC. Hopefully the WBC order me to fight Breazeale in a final eliminator.”