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Dillian Whyte Reinstated As WBA Heavyweight Title Mandatory Challenger

Dillian Whyte Reinstated As WBA Heavyweight Title Mandatory Challenger

The British heavyweight lost his position as the man to take on Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury but has since been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Dillian Whyte will take on the winner of Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury after being reinstated as the WBC mandatory challenger, though he will have to wait till February 2021.

Back in July British heavyweight Whyte became the WBC interim heavyweight champion and mandatory challenger for Wilder's title when he beat Oscar Rivas in 12 action packed rounds.

Whyte was then stripped of the position after an irregular urine sample leading up to the fight but was cleared of any wrongdoing last week by UK Anti Doping.

Following that ruling by UKAD, the WBC have now reinstated the 31-year-old to position as number one contender. Confirming the news in a statement they revealed his fight won't be for over a year.

"On July 20, 2019, Dillian Whyte defeated Oscar Rivas conquering the WBC Interim Heavyweight World Championship," the statement said.

"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, 2109, 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 57 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 was back in action on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's rematch with Andy Ruiz last weekend. Image: PA Images
Whyte was back in action on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's rematch with Andy Ruiz last weekend. Image: PA Images

The shape of the heavyweight division, and certainly the WBC title, could be completely different by February 2021, not least with Wilder's rematch with Fury coming up in February 2020.

After that there's a chance the two men will have a third fight and Whyte will look to stay active in the next 14 months.

On top of the WBC picture there's also the IBF and WBO titles with Anthony Joshua expected to face Kubrat Pulev for the former and that could mean he has to vacate the latter to Oleksandr Usyk as mandatory challenger.

Can Whyte beat Fury or Wilder?

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Topics: Heavyweight boxing, Tyson Fury, Boxing News, Andy Ruiz Jr, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, WBC