From missing-out to mandatory: Dillian Whyte's determined heavyweight journey lands him 12 rounds away from illustrious world title shot

Dillian Whyte has had a turbulent professional career but perseverance has paid off and handed him the opportunity of a lifetime, with just one brick needed to complete the wall to an interminable WBC title shot

Born in Jamaica, Dillian Whyte has known his fighting spirit from young, facing the dangers of a life that no child should ever have to live, avoiding crime and corruption with temptations to negative walks of life before moving to the UK. Boxing provided a way out of his turbulent childhood with even Whyte himself proclaiming that the sport "saved me and changed my life", showing even before his career began, his early bravery and determination to make a success of his life.

Beginning with roots in Kickboxing, the 32-year-old grew up fighting holding a record of (20-1) in addition to being a IKMA British super-heavyweight champion and European K1 champion, before making the move to amateur boxing, where he cruised through six fights impressing several people in the sport, and even defeating Anthony Joshua at this level by unanimous decision over three rounds.

The Brixton fighter was then reaching a place he never thought he could, making his professional debut in 2011 and shooting into the spotlight, wining six professional bouts before facing his first big controversy in the sport, where he was banned with a period of ineligibility from 13 October 2012 to 12 October 2014.

However, his perseverance came prominent when he refused to give up on the sport, and returned in 2014 stringing together a quick series of victories to earn a shot at Anthony Joshua again, to this time become WBC world heavyweight champion. Despite putting up a hugely impressive display, Whyte could not gain the victory, being stopped in the seventh round, but was extremely lose having rocked Joshua early on and being prominent on the scorecards throughout. Most importantly, his positive attitude did not change and he responded by vowing to bounce back stronger than ever and rise back up to the heights of 2015.

He never looked back after the Joshua fight, mastering his boxing technique and learning under former trainer Mark Tibbs, beating Derek Chisora twice, Joseph Parker and Lucas Browne, becoming an undeniable figure in the division, calling out bigger and better fights after each victory and became mandatory challenge once again after beating Oscar Rivas, back in July 2019.

However a title shot was not called by the WBC with almost 1000 days passing as a mandatory challenger without a fight for the belt, and boxing politics continuing to deny Whyte his ongoing desire at rising to the cream of the heavyweight crop. But, in recent weeks through Whyte's appeal to the WBC, they have enforced the fight to be scheduled before February 2021, although the global pandemic may threaten to delay the fight further.

Now Whyte has risen to the top of the contender list in the heavyweight division once again, despite an ongoing batlle with the WBC and the title holders to recieve a shot at world champion glory, and is just one step away from an enforced shot against Tyson Fury or a vacant belt should Fury decide to vacate and take the Anthony Joshua challenge instead.

Last year was a bleak year for Whyte as a boxer, struggling with physical and mental frailties that threatened to overshadow his career, but despite facing heavy criticism he continued to try and overturn a new chapter in his professional heavyweight career. Fighting in Saudi Arabia was a real test where he looked completely out of sorts, scraping to a points victory over Wach, lacking his normal explosive agressive style that has carried him so far during his career, as a result of weighing in remarkably overweight.

But now Whyte during the Fight Camp week looks in the shape of his life, shedding over a stone to look primed and ready to capture his chance, but in his way faces a menacing looking 'Russian Vityaz' who has caused problems for many other top fighters including Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko. Although this could be seen as a gamble, a victory here would prove that the 6'4 heavyweight is clear of any other leading contenders and will make his presence with the likes of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua impossible to deny.

He possesses a marginal advantage in terms of size and reach with a powerful range of his own shots over Povetkin in this Fight Camp clash, and a highly recognised crunching left hook that matches up neatly to his opponents’ lethal weapon. He will no doubt use these advantages, maintaining a focus throughout on inflicting power and heavy body damage in the early rounds to prevent the fight becoming embroiled by scrappy exchanges and a complete dogfight in the latter stages. This has often been a platform that has provided success in the past with some sensational stoppages as mentioned previously against Derek Chisora and Lucas Browne.

Dillian Whyte will be widely expected to prevail in this bout and any unexpected defeat could derail his chances of making his way to the summit, but victory will cement his place as a contender that will not lie down, a part of the big guns in the heavyweight division and British boxing scene.