Dillian Whyte insists he is ‘100 per cent’ confident of knocking out Anthony Joshua and hopes their potential rematch will be for the undisputed heavyweight crown.
Joshua reclaimed three of the major four world titles by outclassing Andy Ruiz Jr over 12 rounds back in December, but Whyte is convinced he has the power to hurt his rival when they meet again after AJ was stopped in a shock upset against the Mexican first time out.
’If Ruiz can knock him out, I can 100 per cent knock him out, because I’m a harder puncher than Andy Ruiz, pound-for-pound,’ Whyte told Sky Sports. ‘I’ve got better feet than him as well, and better boxing technique than Andy Ruiz. He’s got fast hands, but his feet are slow.
Dillian Whyte has insisted he is ‘100 per cent’ confident he would knock out Anthony Joshua
AJ holds three of the major four world titles after exacting revenge on Andy Ruiz Jr last year
‘I’ve shown also in fights that I can come back from being down on the scorecards and I carry knockout power in the latter stages of the fight as well, which is a big thing for a heavyweight.
‘I showed you that I can get you round one, round two, round three, round four, or even round 11 and round 12, I can get you. A lot of heavyweights can only get you in one to six rounds. If they don’t get you early, then that’s a wrap for them.’
Joshua and Whyte have history which stretches back to the amateur ranks and fought for the British title back in 2015.
AJ won that contest by a brutal knockout in the seventh round after being rocked by a left hook from Whyte earlier in the fight.
A rematch has been touted for some time and Whyte revealed last year he received a ‘stupid offer’ to fight Joshua last year, which he swiftly rejected.
Since losing to Joshua, Whyte has won 11 fights on the bounce and climbed the heavyweight rankings in the process.
Whyte is convinced he can stop Joshua because he believes he punchers harder than Ruiz Jr
Joshua and Whyte have a long-standing rivalry and fought for the British title back in 2015
WHYTE’S RECORD
Fights: 28
Wins: 27
KOs: 18
Defeats: 1
JOSHUA’S RECORD
Fights: 24
Wins: 23
KOs: 21
Defeats: 1
He is scheduled to fight a former Joshua victim in Alexander Povetkin next on May 2 while AJ has an IBF mandatory against Kubrat Pulev pencilled in for June 20.
Both fights are under major threat of being postponed due to the coronavirus but Whyte remains hopeful of getting his hands on Joshua again next year.
‘I would love to fight Joshua again, at a drop of a hat,’ Whyte continued. ‘It’s one of the biggest fights out there. I’m in the game to have the biggest fights and the most meaningful fights. I’m trying to make history.
‘Imagine, to get one shot at all the marbles at once, how unreal that would be after all this nonsense – and then out of nowhere, me and Joshua fight, I knock him out and become undisputed champion of the world.’
