Is Eddie Hearn and Dillian Whyte on the Verge of Splitting Up?
Could we soon see a parting of ways between perennial heavyweight contender Dillian “The Bodysnatcher” Whyte (28-3, 19 KOs) and Matchroom Boxing? Whyte is still licking his wounds following a sixth-round TKO loss to WBC champion Tyson Fury in April 2022.
During an interview with 3KingsBoxing affiliate, ThaBoxingVoice, Matchroom Boxing Chairman Eddie Hearn updated his status with the fighter since his loss to Fury.
“He came into my Live the other day on Instagram. He’s a free agent; he can field offers from everyone. We’d love to get him back on. Getting him back to winning ways. Got a great relationship, and I’m sure everybody would love to see Dillian Whyte in big fights. We haven’t talked about specific dates and opponents, but at some point, I’m sure we will.”
Whyte signed a multi-fight deal with the promotional company in 2016. Their relationship had its bumps along the road. When asked if he thinks Whyte will re-sign, the promoter is hopeful. However, in a moment of honesty, he mentioned how there have been moments of friction.
WILL HE STAY OR GO?
“All being equal, yeah. But at the end of the day, it’s a business. He’s at the back end of his career now. He’ll be looking to make as much money as possible, but we’ve always worked well together. I don’t think he would be able to have the relationship we’ve had with any other promoter.
“Dillian and his team sometimes can be difficult, but we always get business done, and I don’t think they would enjoy working with anyone else the way they enjoy working with us. So, he’s a loyal, stand-up, credible guy, and I think he’d like to finish his career with us.”
In 2019, “The Bodysnatcher” declared he was a free agent and expressed frustration towards Hearn. For years he was WBC mandatory challenger for previous champion Deontay Wilder. Yet, Whyte was unable to land the championship bout he desperately craved.
He also pursued a rematch with then unified champ Anthony Joshua after his second victory over long-time challenger, Dereck Chisora. Unfortunately, Whyte claimed Hearn was “shorting” him on the purse he stood to obtain in the rematch and made this evident in the media.
Some pundits during these periods suggested it would be in Whyte’s best interest to move on. But the fighter stayed loyal.
BOTTOM-LINE BUSINESS
As it stands now, this is the harsh reality. Coming off a stoppage lost to Fury, Whyte’s stock is low. He’s never been the most marketable fighter, to begin with. Furthermore, who considers him a cash cow, even in the United Kingdom? If he were to move on, it would be hard-pressed if he were to sign a deal that would be worth a lot of money.
No one understands this more than Hearn. His general attitude is while he would like to continue to work with Whyte, it would be no sweat off his back if he decided to leave.
The relationship between a fighter and promoter is often a constant tug-of-war for a power play. We’re seeing it playing out right now with Whyte and Hearn. Stay tuned to 3KingsBoxing for further updates on the developing story.
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By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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