Promoter Eddie Hearn is beating the drum for what seems a guaranteed shootout between his fighter Dillian Whyte and former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, insisting the heavyweight division would be richer for the return of the ‘Bronze Bomber’.
Wilder hasn’t fought since losing his WBC crown in seven rounds to Tyson Fury in their rematch in February 2020, having been blighted by injury, and still hopes to secure a previously contracted trilogy clash with the ‘Gypsy King’, with that claim currently in arbitration.
With Londoner Whyte now back among the heavyweight elite following his comprehensive four-round revenge win over Alexander Povetkin at the weekend, Hearn views a clash with Wilder as one of the most lucrative fights out there – despite no world titles being on the line.
“Both Dillian Whyte and Deontay Wilder are not world champions, so there’s no actual standard as far as who should get what in terms of the purse. We need to see Deontay Wilder back in the ring. The heavyweight division is a better one with him in it,” Hearn told ‘The AK & Barak Show’ on DAZN and SiriusXM.
“Dillian Whyte can be matched with anyone. But Wilder-Whyte is a thrilling barnburner. Deontay Wilder is a huge name in America now after those two fights with Fury. He’s also a big name in the UK. I haven’t really thought about the split. I would just work with the money and say, ‘Guys, this is what I think is in the fight. We can work out a deal’. Who knows? We need to see Deontay Wilder back in the ring. I want to see that and I think he’s great for the sport.
“And I think the division would be a better place with him in it, so let’s see him get active. Dillian has had such a long run of tough fights. I would like to see him come to the states in the summer and have a fight. Whether that’s [WBA Regular champion] Trevor Bryan or another American heavyweight to make a mark here. I think Deontay Wilder and I think the Andy Ruiz fight is tremendous as well for Dillian Whyte.
“Dillian Whyte is one of those guys that you can match him against anyone and he’s always exciting. He’s never been in a dull fight, and I just feel that Wilder-Whyte is a barnburner, I really do. I think it’s an absolutely thrilling fight. I’m not sure they’d make it to the ring, but it would be a lot of fun.”