Dillian Whyte

Early life

Whyte was born in Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica. In the 1990s, Whyte moved, with his family, including his brother Dean, to the United Kingdom at 12 years of age. Of his early life Whyte has spoken of performance in academia at school in England, while adding: "I had no schooling at all when I lived in Jamaica."

Whyte grew up in Brixton, Lambeth and fought at Miguel's Boxing Gym.

He had spoken of the influencing experience boxing has had upon his early life, by stating: "I didn't do too well at school, to be honest, but boxing saved me and changed my life. And it was going well, because I knew it was my best chance in life."

Professional kickboxing career

Originally, Whyte was a professional kickboxer, to which he became two-time British heavyweight kickboxing champion by claiming the BIKMA Super Heavyweight British Championship title, and one-time European K1 champion, while being ranked UK #1 for five years in his weight category of 95 kg +, ending his kickboxing career with a K-1 record of 20–1, before then turning to MMA. Whyte made his professional MMA debut on December 6, 2008, at the Ultimate Challenge MMA, on the James McSweeney vs. Neil Grove undercard, where he defeated Mark Stroud with a hugely destructive left hook only 12 seconds into the round; ultimately winning by KO at The Troxy.

Kickboxing highlights

Amateur boxing career

In his first amateur bout, in 2009, aged 20, Whyte beat Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision over three rounds. He had stated prior to the fight that his trainer Chris Okoh admitted that the decision to agree to the fight was then considered a risk, albeit ultimately accepting the fight to which Whyte had stated, "But I said I'd take it. Sometimes you've just got to take opportunities when they come."

He left one of his amateur opponents in a coma for several weeks, due to a knockout.

Whyte has a limited amateur record because of a dispute with the ABA regarding his kickboxing background, which led him to turn professional in 2011, although trainer Okoh wanted him to remain amateur. Whyte signed with boxing promoter Frank Maloney, after friends of Maloney witnessed sparring sessions Whyte had with David Haye and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson.

Early career

Whyte made his professional debut on 13 May 2011. He fought Tayar Mehmed and won via decision in the fourth round, obtaining the decision of 40-36. On 16 September 2011, Whyte made his second professional appearance against his Lithuanian heavyweight journeyman opponent Remigijus Ziausys. Whyte ultimately won by PTS in the fourth round, obtaining the decision of 40-37.

On 3 December 2011 Whyte defeated Croatian Toni Visic, winning by TKO in the third round due to referee Jeff Hinds stopping the fight at 1.46.

The next fight for Whyte was against veteran journeyman Hastings Rasani on 21 January 2012 at the Liverpool Olympia in Liverpool. Whyte scored a fourth round in based on a points decision over Rasani, making it his third win on points.

For his fifth professional bout, Whyte defeated Bulgarian Kristian Kirilov by TKO in the first round at The Troxy, Limehouse on 2 March 2012, which as followed by an additional TKO in his sixth bout in the first round on 19 May 2012 against Georgian Zurab Noniashvili at the Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool. Whyte went on to fight Hungarian giant Gabor Farkas at the York Hall, Bethnal Green on 7 July 2012, winning by KO when the referee Ken Curtis stopped the contest in the second round; it marked the first KO victory in Whyte's professional career.

Two months later on 15 September 2012, Whyte challenged former British heavyweight champion Mike Holden to a bout scheduled for six rounds. Holden was put down once in the 2nd and twice in the 3rd round, to which referee Jeff Hinds stopped the fight. Whyte's last fight of 2012 was against Sandor Balogh, which took place in Bluewater, Greenhithe, Kent on the James DeGale undercard when DeGale fought Hadiliah Mohoumadi for the EBU Super Middleweight title on 13 October 2012. Whyte won the bout bit was later stripped of the win due to testing positive for banned substances.

Drug ban in 2012

A sample for an in-competition drugs test that Whyte had provided after his victory over Hungary's Sandor Balogh on 13 October was examined and subsequently tested positive for the banned stimulantMethylhexaneamine (MHA). The revelation came and was learned while Whyte was en route to a news conference to announce a fight for the English title. The UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) organisation confirmed that Whyte was provisionally suspended from all competition from 5 November 2012. An independent National Anti-Doping Panel too found that the case warranted a two-year ban. However, Whyte appealed the ban, though the appeal panel retorted by emphasising the confirmed two-year ban; the tribunal had accepted Whyte's claim that he did not knowingly take Methylhexaneamine, but rejected his appeal because he did not do enough to check the supplement's ingredients, as Charles Flint QC, the chairman of the appeal tribunal, explained in his written verdict.

In its first instance decision, the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) found that Whyte failed to seek professional or medical advice before using the supplement Jack3D, which he had bought over the counter from a nutritional supplement shop. Consequently, they stated that he had "failed to discharge the burden of establishing that he was not significantly at fault" and therefore could not reduce his sanction from two years. The appeal panel agreed with this decision, stressing that the case emphasises "the dangers of athletes taking supplements which contain MHA".

Whyte was thereby banned from all competitions with a period of ineligibility from 13 October 2012 to 12 October 2014, and the result against Sandor Balogh disqualified. As Whyte and company exercised the right to appeal under article 13.4.1, they have no further right to appear under the rules.

Return to boxing in 2014

Whyte was cleared to compete from 12 October 2014, since his two-year ban by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and returned to boxing on 21 November 2014 at the Camden Centre, Kings Cross, London to fight Croatian boxer Ante Verunica, a fight which lasted all but two rounds as Whyte delivered a hard shot that forced a stoppage, from referee Jeff Hinds, and return with a TKO victory. On 28 November, one week after his fight with Verunica, Whyte returned to the Camden Centre and put on another dominating display stopping Tomas Mrazek, with Whyte knocking the durable Mrazek down three times in the third round.

On 20 December 2014, Whyte scored another TKO win, this time over heavyweight hope Kamil Sokolowski in three rounds in City Hall, Hull, Yorkshire.

Whyte followed up his Sokolowskia win with a KO victory over Brazilian Marcelo Luiz Nascimento on 7 February 2015 at the Camden Centre, Kings Cross, to which the Brazilian had never been stopped as quickly in his career.

Whyte's next fight after Nascimento was against undefeated Georgian Beka Lobjanidze, which took place on 28 February in the Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland on the undercard of The World Is Not Enough Belfast boxing card featuring Carl Frampton's defense against Christopher Avalos for the IBF World Super Bantamweight title. Whyte scored a fourth round stoppage over Lobjanidze in a scheduled 10-round Heavyweight bout, as Whyte landed a hard left to the side of the head which sent Lobjanidze to the canvas and he was unable to beat referee Phil Edwards' count at 1:10 of round four, and winning by KO.

On 1 August 2015, Whyte faced Brazilian Irineu Beato Costa Junior, at the KC Lightstream Stadium, Hull on the undercard of Rumble on the Humber featuring Luke Campbell's clash against Tommy Coyle for the WBC Lightweight title eliminator. Whyte sent the Brazilian crashing backwards to the canvas, and referee Michael Alexander stopped the fight with two minutes forty-one seconds remaining in the first round as Whyte deposited Costa back to the floor by a booming right hand.

Following his victory over Costa Junior, it was announced that Whyte will face American Brian Minto at The O2 Arena for the WBC International Silver Heavyweight title on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's title clash with Gary Cornish on 12 September. He defeated Minto by KO in the third round, having already knocked him down once in the first round en route to finishing the fight.

Whyte vs. Joshua

On 14 September 2015, it was announced that Whyte would fight old rival Anthony Joshua for the vacant British heavyweight title on 12 December.

Joshua was able to use his power to hurt Whyte in the first round. He appeared hurt again in the second round but was able to catch Joshua with a counterpunch and follow it up, leaving Joshua visibly shaken, Whyte also landed several body shots towards the end of the round that winded Joshua further leaving him much less mobile. This continued somewhat in the third round with Joshua still looking tired and stiff legged. As the rounds went on, Joshua regained his composure and took control. Whyte took many hard shots before coming back with his own, his chin has since been lauded by critics. Whyte was rocked again in the seventh round from a heavy right hand to the temple. Joshua was able to follow through and landed an uppercut that put Whyte down through the ropes and knocked him out.

Career from 2016–2017

Following the loss to Joshua, Whyte spent some time recovering from a shoulder surgery and returned to the boxing ring on Joshua's first world title defence at the O2 Arena on 25 June 2016. Whyte defeated Ivica Bacurin via knockout. Whyte started off slow, before working on the jab and knocking Bacurin out with a right hand.

Whyte next fought at the First Direct arena on July 30 against David Allen for the vacant WBC International heavyweight title. In what was expected to be a tough fight for Whyte, the fight went the full scheduled 10 round distance. Whyte won the fight with a comfortable decision win with the judges scoring the fight 99-91, 100-91 and 100-90.

Whyte vs. Lewison

It was announced on 19 September that Whyte would fight domestic veteran Ian Lewison for the vacant British heavyweight title in Glasgow on the undercard of Burns vs. Relikh on 7 October. Whyte and Lewison had to be separated at the weigh-in press conrerence after Whyte mocked Lewison's weight and grabbed his chest showing off flab. Both fighters promised knockouts. Whyte defeated Lewison to claim the vacant title via a 10th round stoppage victory. The fight was stopped in round 10 by Lewison’s corner. It appeared that he had a nose problem that caused the fight to be halted. Although Lewison looked good from the opening bell, Whyte started taking control from round 3 onwards. In round 10, Lewison turned his back to started blowing his nose. Whyte missed with a big right hand. From there on, Lewison started boxing defensively before the fight was eventually stopped, declaring Whyte the winner.

Whyte vs. Chisora

Terms were finally agreed for a fight between Whyte and bitter London rival Dereck Chisora (26-6, 18 KOs) to fight in a WBC title eliminator. Whyte and Chisora had been feuding over the year through social media. The fight took place on Sky Box Office in the UK on the undercard off Anthony Joshua vs. Éric Molina for the IBF heavyweight title. The fight was slated to be Whyte's first defence of the British heavyweight title he won against Lewison. However, at the final press conference on 7 December, following Whyte's comment that he'd attack Chisora anytime he sees him after the fight, Chisora picked up the table he was sitting at and threw it towards Whyte, just missing everyone in the way which included the promoters and trainers. As a result, the BBBofC withdrew their sanction of the fight and the British title will not be at stake. Whyte's WBC International title will be at stake instead. In an epic and clean grudge match, both fighters were hurt, with Chisora and Whyte showing a lot of heart. Whyte won via a controversial split decision. Two judges scoring the fight 115-113 and 115-114 for Whyte and one scoring 115-114 in favour of Chisora. Whyte was hurt a number of times in the fight by Chisora in the 8th, 10th and 12th rounds. On two occasions in the 12th, Whyte was knocked off balance by Chisora after being hit with huge shots to the head. Post fight, Whyte stated he would not give Chisora a rematch but changed his mind later saying he would be open to a rematch.

Whyte vs. Tann

In April 2017 it was announced that Whyte would headline a card at The O2 Arena on 3 June 2017. Whyte listed Bryant Jennings, Mariusz Wach, Artur Szpilka and Gerald Washington as potential opponents. On 14 April, Washington put his name forward wanting to get back into the world title mix following his failed attempt to dethrone WBC champion Deontay Wilder in February 2017. On 19 April, Matchroom Boxing revealed Whyte's opponent would be 37 year old former world title challenger Mariusz Wach (33-2, 17 KOs). The fight was to take place live on Sky Sports and would also feature younger talents including Reece Bellotti, Ted Cheeseman and Lawrence Okolie. The fight was postponed on 16 May due to Whyte injuring his foot. There was no immediate mention as to when the fight would be rescheduled for.

In early June, promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that Whyte would be making his US debut in the Summer of 2017 in order to earn himself a potential world title match by the end of the year. On 25 July, Hearn announced that Whyte would fight 44 year old former world title challenger Michael Grant (48-7, 36 KOs), who was on a three fight losing streak since 2013. Grant had only fought once since October 2014, which took place in April 2017 in a knockout loss to Polish contender Krzysztof Zimnoch. Grant unsuccessfully challenged then unified heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in 2000. The fight lasted less than six minutes. The announcement received a lot of criticism and bad press from the media and fans. Two days later, Grant confirmed the fight was cancelled. On August 6, after struggling to find an opponent, Hearn revealed that Whyte would fight 15 year veteran Malcolm Tann (24-5, 13 KOs) in a scheduled 8 round fight. Whyte knocked Tann down four times en route to wining the fight via TKO in round 3. Whyte admitted he needed a bigger challenge towards the end of the year before a potential world title fight.

Personal life

Whyte has three children, including two boys. He has highlighted his early boxing idols, including such as Jack Dempsey, Sonny Liston, Kevin Johnson, Archie Moore, Lennox Lewis, and James Toney. On 23 March 2015, as part of Evelyn Grace Academy's Sport Week, Whyte appeared alongside footballer Brede Hangeland and rugby union player Natasha Brennan to speak to the students of his profession and to impart advice and provide inspiration. Whyte is one-eighth Irish.