Boxing
Dillian Whyte reinstated as interim WBC heavyweight champion, declared mandatory challenger of Wilder vs. Fury 2 winner
Dillian Whyte couldn't have asked for a better week.
On Wednesday morning, the WBC announced that Whyte is being reinstated as the interim WBC heavyweight champion, and he will be the mandatory challenger for the winner of the rematch between WBC titlist Deontay Wilder and lineal champion Tyson Fury scheduled for Feb. 22. The sanctioning body stated the fight must occur by February of 2021.
The WBC's full statement:
"On July 20, 2019, Dillian Whyte defeated Oscar Rivas conquering the WBC Interim Heavyweight World Championship. A few days later, a news report made public that an out-of-competition urine sample collected by UKAD (UK Anti-Doping) on June 20, 2019, from Dillian Whyte had yielded an adverse finding. In light of that adverse finding, and pending the outcome of the WBC’s own investigation and adjudicatory process, on July 30, 2019, the WBC provisionally suspended its recognition of Dillian Whyte as WBC Interim World Heavyweight Champion and Mandatory Challenger of the division.
"On December 6, 2019, UKAD made a public announcement withdrawing its charge against Dillian Whyte.
"Based on limited but detailed research and information gathering, including the WBC’s consultation with two independent experts, the WBC found that there was no sufficient or conclusive evidence that Whyte intentionally, or even knowingly, ingested a banned substance with the purpose of enhancing his performance in any fashion. In light of the WBC’s own finding and of UKAD’s withdrawal of the claim against Mr. Whyte, the WBC has closed its internal investigation.
"The WBC is hereby lifting its provisional suspension and confirming its recognition of Mr. Whyte as WBC Interim World Heavyweight Champion.
"Consistent with the WBC Board of Governors’ Ruling at last October’s 57th WBC Annual Convention, Interim Champion Whyte shall become the Mandatory Challenger of the division immediately after Champion Deontay Wilder’s mandatory defense against current Mandatory Challenger Tyson Fury, with the mandatory defense against Whyte being due on or about February of 2021."
Whyte had his first fight since the suspension on Saturday and defeated Mariusz Wach by unanimous decision on the Andy Ruiz Jr.-Anthony Joshua 2 undercard. It is unknown if Whyte will sit and wait for the Wilder-Fury 2 winner or take a fight beforehand.
