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Whyte 'closing the gap' on heavyweight champion Joshua

AJ may have his eyes on a unification bout with Deontay Wilder, but Dillian Whyte hasn’t given up hopes of a rematch.

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. 

O2 Arena Boxing British heavyweight, Dillian Whyte. Steven Paston Steven Paston

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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    Mute Gary O'Rourke
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    Mar 7th 2022, 1:55 PM

    Loves Mind games this fella. Hope we batter them, because behind the mind games is a bitter coach who is under massive pressure.

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    Mute Augustus hoop
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    Mar 7th 2022, 5:11 PM

    @Gary O’Rourke: is he under massive pressure? Seems English RFU have accepted that 6 nations results can suffer provided World Cup performance is there. He’s already made one WC final (playing ridiculously well). He isn’t going to be sacked even if they finish bottom half again this year. Also he’s made huge money and his record means he’ll get another job easy if England do let him go.

    On top of that – what he is saying is correct rather than mind games. We are favourites!

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    Mute Ron
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    Mar 7th 2022, 6:59 PM

    @Augustus hoop: Accept for the fact they have gone considerably downhill since he took over in late 15 from Lancaster who let’s be honest built an unbelievable setup. Let’s see how they get on in the next world cup.

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    Mute Augustus hoop
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    Mar 7th 2022, 7:29 PM

    @Ron: they made the World Cup final – completely outplaying New Zealand in the semi – I wouldn’t consider that to be ‘downhill’ from not getting out of the group in 2015!!!? It was a full 4 years after Lancaster had moved on. I think it’s a stretch to be giving Lancaster more credit for it than jones.
    I dont particularly like how the man goes on, but his record of repeatedly managing/coaching teams that peak for world cups and perform better – not just results also performance (Australia, Japan, England and even s Africa when he was no2) – is surely no open to debate!!!?

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    Mute Ron
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    Mar 7th 2022, 9:28 PM

    @Augustus hoop: they made the world cup final 3 years ago in fairness and the lack of expansive rugby they have played since compared to Lancaster era and just after is clear to see. Agree that WC didn’t work out for Lancaster but by the time he left Eng were one the best teams imo. You could see how dangerous they were getting. Also going from 2020 to now it’s clearly a downward trajectory and you can see he knows it. I didn’t question his past coaching achievements.

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    Mute Tyrone Williams
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    Mar 7th 2022, 10:46 PM

    @Gary O’Rourke:
    Such a soccer manager! The game should be played on the field, not in the media!

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    Mute G
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    Mar 7th 2022, 2:06 PM

    Any compliment from him feels backhanded somehow. Waiting for the other shoe to drop

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Mar 7th 2022, 3:52 PM

    @G: His compliments have T’s & C’s.

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    Mute Con Cussed
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    Mar 7th 2022, 2:19 PM

    We’ll have to be extra vigilant then Eddie, won’t we!

    It will be tough and England will have worked out every weakness in our play. I hope it’s a great game. C’mon Ireland!

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    Mute Ro Molloy
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    Mar 7th 2022, 2:51 PM

    They will target us at the breakdown. They way to beat Ireland us to slow down our ball hence the Underhill inclusion. He is a breakdown specialist. It will be interesting to see how Farrell can counter this.

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Mar 7th 2022, 5:11 PM

    According to Eddie have England been favourites for any game in this 6 nations yet?

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    Mute Hear me now
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    Mar 7th 2022, 6:50 PM

    This guy…sly as they come…thinks he is anyway!

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    Mute Darren
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    Mar 7th 2022, 9:01 PM

    Can’t stomach that Jones fella he’s some spiteful ballix who just trys his best to wind up the opposition coaches and players. He has a serious chip on his shoulder with the Irish lads especially. Hope we batter them

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    Mute Gerry McCaughey
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    Mar 7th 2022, 6:20 PM

    In fairness Ireland probably are slight favourites. As someone else said England will target us at the breakdown. The best way to stop us playing is to target us there. But they’ll need to do a much better job than they did last year. I fancy an Ireland win by 10.

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    Mute Ivan O'Riordan
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    Mar 7th 2022, 6:15 PM

    Soft talk from Eddie once again.

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    Mute pat seery
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    Mar 7th 2022, 5:12 PM

    Probably his Last Game in Charge Won’t be Missed

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    Mute Mark Railton
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    Mar 7th 2022, 9:52 PM

    @pat seery: can only hope….

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    Mute Stephen Walshe
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    Mar 7th 2022, 9:38 PM

    No matter what this fella says it calculated for his own interests. Basically he’s saying they’re good why wouldn’t they be, sure they play together week in week out. Always a bitter narrative with him never take him a face value awful bitter.

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    Mute John Madden
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    Mar 7th 2022, 10:25 PM

    He’s playing games again.

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    Mute David Gaffney
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    Mar 8th 2022, 12:25 AM

    For once he seems to have told the truth. Yes, there are always mind games at play with him, but Ireland are and should deservedly be favourites and so what if he says so?! It is also true that his team is a work in progress. That’s obvious. Now all we have to do is prove him right! Wouldn’t that be nice?!

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    Mute Kerrie Roche
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    Mar 8th 2022, 1:41 AM

    Eddie in wrong sport..should be in boxing with all his pre match mind games and fighting talk….

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