Dillian Whyte’s trainer, Buddy McGirt, has responded to the news that their fight with Anthony Joshua has been pulled due to an ‘adverse analytical finding’ in Whyte’s Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency test.
The news comes just one week out from fight night where ‘AJ’ and Whyte were set to reignite their domestic rivalry, last seen played out for the British Heavyweight title in 2015.
With the bout officially cancelled, fans await more detailed news on the matter as to what substance has been found and Whyte’s defence. McGirt, it seems, is in the same boat.
He spoke to Neue Online Casinos about his initial reaction.
“To be honest I’ve literally just heard about it myself, I was in bed watching Judge Judy. They say they’ve found an adverse analytical finding, what the hell is that? I’m very, very disappointed because Dillian was ready, I haven’t spoken to Dillian yet and it is hard to comment because I really don’t know what the hell is going on.”
“I have never been in this situation before, it’s a f***ed up feeling because of all the hard work that has gone in. Everybody has sacrificed. And it’s a week before the fight and he’s looking sharp and now this. It’s a big f***ing let down. Camp has been great. I felt in my heart he was going to knock Joshua out.”
The famed trainer, who has cornered White for just one bout so far, went on to say that he would stand by his fighter and believes that he wouldn’t knowingly break the doping rules.
“I stand by Dillian, I’m not going to turn my back on him. I will never do that, I will stand by him through thick and thin and right now that shit is thick, so I’ve really got to stand by him.
But until they say what the substance is, I can’t make a statement. Everybody in the camp is going to get together in a couple of hours and find out what the hell is going on. It’s a kick in the balls.
I feel in my heart of hearts Dillian would never take anything illegal because he’s always been a straight forward guy and from being around him, he really loves his career, he cherishes it, and this a fight that could have put him right back up there, so why f**k it up?
People should not be the judge and the jury until the evidence is proven. Everyone will have their opinion, but let’s wait and see what it is.”
Whyte has been involved in two similar cases prior. He was banned in 2012 for two years for a performance enhancer. The suspension was upheld by the National Anti-Doping Panel despite its acceptance that Whyte didn’t knowingly ingest the substance.
Fast forward to 2019 and the heavyweight returned an adverse finding ahead of his fight with Oscar Rivas. The even went ahead and he was subsequently cleared by the UK Anti-Doping Agency of any wrongdoing.
Boxing Social understands the Joshua’s team are now set to announce a late replacement. McGirt said it would be tough for ‘AJ’ to adjust.
“I’m not sure if Joshua will fight a back up opponent because you set up mentally for an opponent and then you get someone else, so it’s hard to rise to the occasion for a different guy. But if he’s planning to fight Wilder, fight, keep your tools sharp.”
More news is expected soon as the the status of the event on August 12 at London’s O2 Arena, which was a quick sell-out.