Daily Star

Looks like a Whyte Xmas

-

IT is a real Christmas cracker of a weekend for fight fans with two blockbuste­r bouts.

Two years and two weeks after their first encounter, Dillian Whyte faces Dereck Chisora II at the O2 Arena.

And in Manchester, Josh Warrington makes the first defence of his IBF World featherwei­ght title against Carl Frampton.

Whyte took narrow split decision verdict over ‘Del Boy’ on that night in December

2016.

‘The Body Snatcher’ has gone on to notch four straight victories since.

Two of those have been by knockout and most recently with an impressive unanimous decision over former WBO heavyweigh­t champ Joseph Parker in July.

Chisora has three knockout wins but he also suffered a narrow points defeat to the unbeaten German Agit Kabayel in Monaco.

Whyte’s only defeat in a 25-fight pro career came at the hands of Anthony Joshua – who he had beaten as an amateur – while Chisora has suffered eight losses in his 37 fights. There is no love lost between the Londoners, ranked sixth and 11th in the world rankingsan­d a lucrative date with Oleksandr Usyk could await the winner.

Whyte is 1-3 to record another victory over Chisora, who is

5-2. PEARSON’S Whyte seems to be calmer and is more capable of boxing to a game plan which should just see him home against Chisora. He is 13-10 to win on points for a second time.

Warrington – unbeaten in his 27 profession­al fights – landed the title on a split decision against Lee Selby in front of his home crowd at Elland Road but takes a big step up in class against ‘The Jackal’.

Frampton’s sole defeat came via the narrowest of margins in a rematch with Leo Santa Cruz in Las Vegas early last year that saw him lose his WBA title.

Warrington’s attacking style could play into Frampton’s hands and the Northern Irishman is 1-2 to reclaim a world title, Warrington 7-4 to successful­ly defend.

It is 4-11 this fight goes to the cards, with Frampton at 11-10 and Warrington 11-4.

a

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom