DILLIAN WHYTE BELIEVES he is closing the gap to Anthony Joshua and would produce a much-improved performance were he to have a rematch with the world heavyweight champion.
Whyte is the number one contender for Deontay Wilder’s WBC title, the only belt in the top weight class not held by Joshua, who faces Andy Ruiz in his American debut on 1 June.
An expected Joshua victory will likely reignite talk of a bout to determine the undisputed champion of the world between Joshua and Wilder, the American having delivered a brutal first-round stoppage of Dominic Breazeale in his last bout.
Whyte will keep his number one contender status should he defeat Oscar Rivas on 20 July and is itching for his shot to win a world title.
He was knocked out in the seventh round by Joshua in December 2015 but would take a very different approach were the two Britons to do battle again.
“He has improved, he has changed the landscape, he is the man, at the minute,” Whyte told Sky Sports of Joshua. ”He has only one title missing.
“I can fight, I know that. I have imperfections, work to do.
Everyone says, ‘Joshua has only had a few fights’. I had seven amateur fights and 26 pro fights. When you talk about experience – I am the one that is inexperienced. Look at all the heavyweights, I am the only one.
“But I would fight any one of them and give them all the worst night of their lives.
“I would back him [Joshua] up from round one. No excuses but last time I had a different coach. We worked to draw him into the later rounds then try to take over, but I got injured and was in terrible condition.
“Next time I will take the fight to him – I am fitter, better, bigger, stronger.
I watched a video of our last fight and saw how much smaller my legs and shoulders were. I am bigger now.
“A lot of things that he has been doing for 11 years, I’ve only just cottoned onto. I am closing the gap.”
Despite holding the WBC Silver and WBO International belts, the 31-year-old has so far been overlooked for world title fights.
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Dunno about anyone else but all this extreme confidence talk, and slight arrogance/expectancy of a guaranteed result is killing me. Sure, Wales got the rub of the green on more than a few occasions since Pivac took over, and probably haven’t played as attractively as they did under Gats – but write them off at your peril. Sure they’re blighted with injuries, but this stuff, and the likes of Rob Kearney saying he can see a comfortable win just plays into their hands – free motivation. Really would’ve expected better from people who know how cute Wales can be when in the long grass. WalesOnline spreading all this talk across the Irish sea too…
@Ultan Corcoran: spot on, wales never lose by much and area always a tough game. Can’t see this being more then 5 or 6 points either way
@Ultan Corcoran: You’re right. But this is lining up to be such a mismatch, if we cannot beat this Wales team by 10 to 15 minimum, then we aren’t where we thought we were at all.
@Dara: Yeah, feel the same way myself! No more than a score or converted try in it.
@Eoin Roche: I get what you’re saying but it’s a lot to beat a usually very consistent side by.. nonetheless I hope you’re right! Just Wales love nothing more than a big upset.
@Ultan Corcoran: totally agree with you. It’s very poor from ex internationals
@Dara: we beat them 32-9 the last time they came to Dublin. The time before that we beat them 24-14 and 7 of their points came in extra time. On the 80 it was 24-7. Both times Pivac and Farrell were in charge. Since then we’ve kicked on. I’m not sure they have.
If Wales have to play for 80 minutes against 15 players they’ve no chance.
@Paul Harvey: That’s a seemingly very big if!
@Scott Campbell: How?
@Paul Harvey: So you’re saying there’s a chance…
@Eoghan Quinn: yeah, if Murray starts Wales have an even better chance
@Scott Campbell: nah, Peyper is the ref. He has a scary disregard for player welfare.
1.Wyn Jones 2.Ryan Elias 3.Tomas Francis 4.Adam Beard 5.Will Rowlands 6.Ellis Jenkins 7.Taine Basham 8.Aaron Wainwright 9.Tomos Williams 10.Dan Biggar 11.Josh Adams’s 12.Nick Tompkins 13.Jonathan Davies 14.Louis Rees-Zammit 15.Liam Williams.
That’s still a very strong Welsh squad but the way our forwards are playing particularly the front row & backrow & Sexton on form I think we’ll come away with a win.
@Harry O’Callaghan: 16.Bradley Roberts 17.Rhys Carré 18.Leon Brown 19.Seb Davies 20.Ross Moriarty 21.Gareth Davies 22.Gareth Anscombe 23.Uilisi Halaholo.
Ireland bench: 16.Dan Sheehan 17.Cian Healy 18.Finlay Bealham 19.Ian Henderson 20.Peter O’Mahony 21.Conor Murray 22.Joey Carbery/Jack Carty 23.Keith Earls/Andrew Conway/Robert Baloucoune.
Much stronger Irish bench.
Wales were never going to win last time around.
Hopefully the OMG! reactions by the Referee/TMO Cabal that ruined last year’s 6 Nations have matured into keeping players on the pitch.
Good Luck to every team taking part. Thank God its not a Lions year and I can shout at the telly louder!
Why are Ireland such strong favorites? Because we are uniquely delusional supporters, especially before this most unpredictable of tournaments. Only Scots cousins are reliably dafter. Home advantage is huge, but we don’t know how either side will be on the (first) day. After France away, we will know more. Do we often both start and finish well in tournaments? Maybe really good years. I’d love a really good 2023 with RWC in there.