Dillian Whyte has teased a future in mixed martial arts and has set an ambitious target of becoming champion in both boxing and UFC.
The heavyweight boxer has been the mandatory challenger to the WBC world title belt for more than two years but the organisation has kept him waiting, but he is still hopeful of rising to the summit at some point.
But Whyte, who began his career as a kickboxer, sees no reason why his goals should end with boxing and is interested in making the switch to MMA. He warned the top heavyweight fighters in the sport – including current champions Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou – that he would knock them all out.
Dillian Whyte believes he could dominate the heavyweight division in UFC in the future
He said champions Stipe Miocic, left, and Francis Ngannou were elite but no match for him
Speaking to the Sun, the 32-year-old said he would have to make adjustments, but that it would be like ‘riding a bike’ as his ‘instincts’ would soon take over.
‘I have not trained in kickboxing or MMA for a while but, for me, it is like riding a bike,’ he said. ‘Once I knock off some of the rust, my instincts come rushing back and I am ready to dominate again.
‘The heavyweight guys over there, champion Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou, are elite and I would have to work on my grappling and wrestling.
‘But I know, standing up and boxing in 4oz gloves, I could knock ANY of their top-ten heavyweights out.
‘In these cages it is five-minute rounds of non-stop moving, kicking, punching, wrestling — it is no joke. But I have better hand skills than any of them and because they try to cover a lot of aspects, that leaves a lot of holes in their game.’
Whyte is on the cusp of challenging for a boxing world title but feels he could excel in MMA
He has called out Ngannou, saying he lacked heart and failed after facing a top opponent
Whyte had a successful career in kickboxing – winning 20 of his fights and suffering just one defeat – and had one fight in MMA as he knocked out his opponent in just 12 seconds.
Given how comfortable he appeared using both his fists and his feet, it seems common sense that Whyte would eventually try his luck in UFC on the biggest stage. Recently he called Ngannou a coward for not showing ‘heart’ in his defeats to Derrick Lewis and Miocic himself.
He said his assessment of the current ‘elite’ in the sport gives him confidence that he could make an impact there, and is tempted by the prospect of becoming champion in the Octagon after realising his ambitions in boxing.
Whyte has been the WBC’s mandatory challenger for two years but is still waiting for his shot
‘I have called Ngannou a coward because, for a guy who is 6ft 4in tall and 18st, he has not shown enough heart in his two defeats.
‘He was on a ten-fight win streak, mostly first-round wins against journeymen, and as soon as he stepped up he lost twice, when people did not just stand there and let him hit them.
‘Ngannou said he would fancy a boxing match but I notice he didn’t mention my name even after I publicly called him a coward. Says it all really.
‘However, I like the sound of stepping over to the UFC, seeing what sort of deal could be done. Becoming heavyweight champion in both is something no one has ever come close to doing before.’
He will next fight Russian Alexander Povetkin, but the fight is in doubt due to the coronavirus
For now, Whyte’s focus is on boxing as he prepares to face former world champion Alexander Povetkin – which has been moved from May to July due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With the fight now in jeapordy with the UK’s lockdown not looking likely to end any time soon, Whyte said he would happily take on the Russian in another country if it was necessary to get the contest underway.
‘If another country, like America or Saudi Arabia, lifts the lockdown before the UK then I have no problem meeting Povetkin there,’ he added.
‘I would fight him, or anybody else, in a car park if there was no other way to get the fight on.’