Dillian Whyte managed to outpoint Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night, edging out a majority decision victory that many fans thought was closer than the judges’ official scores.
The fight was billed as Whyte’s comeback and chance to re-announce himself in the heavyweight division following his defeat to Tyson Fury.
A switch of trainer and rumours of a rematch with Anthony Joshua, who was unimpressed in attendance, gave Whyte the perfect route to prove that he belongs amongst the top contenders in the division.
However, a lacklustre performance has led commentator Mike Costello to believe that the rematch is the wrong choice. Costello told DAZN that he doesn’t think ‘The Body Snatcher’ has a seat at the top table in the division.
“I think you have to say, genuinely and I’m not being facetious, how wide is the top table? If you are talking about Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk and yes, I’d put [Anthony] Joshua there as well, I don’t think he [Whyte] belongs there.
I understand how they can build the rematch against Anthony Joshua, because of what had happened last time around and the chance that he might pin one on him at some stage. After that performance tonight, it’s going to take a lot of selling.”
Despite claims of a second fight around the corner for old rivals Joshua and Whyte, the latter maintains that no talks have taken place as of yet and has cast doubt on the rumoured fight.
Meanwhile, ‘AJ’ and promoter Eddie Hearn continue to seek an opponent for a fight around April or May, as Joshua looks to get back into the winning column following back-to-back defeats for the first time in his career as an amateur or professional.