I won’t fight for the right to party AJ: GETTING BACK TO WHERE I BELONG NO BIG DEAL
DILLIANWHYTE claims he almost quit because of the stress of the last few months.
Whyte has lived under a cloud since it was revealed in July he failed a drugs test before his last fight against Oscar Rivas.
His team claim he cannot comment on the positive sample because his case is still being investigated by UK Anti-Doping.
The 31-year-old returns to the ring against MariuszWach on Saturday’s undercard and said: “It’s good to be back in the ring because it has been stressful. A few times I’ve thought about walking away from boxing and jacking it in. But my team, they kept pushing me, urging me to go to the gym and taking the mickey out of me, saying my belly was getting bigger.There were a few times I thought, ‘Forget boxing, I’ve had enough’.”
In an incident on Monday, Whyte’s brother, Dean, restrained a man who was having a panic attack from trying to open the door on their flight from Heathrow to Riyadh.
Dillian said: “I was asleep when it happened and when I woke up, I heard all about it. I was disappointed he didn’t hit the guy. I would have just knocked him out.”
ANTHONY JOSHUA says it will not be time to party even if he gets his world heavyweight titles back.
That is because the Watford warrior believes he will only be returning to where he belongs.
Joshua, 30, is out for revenge against Andy Ruiz in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
The Briton faces the MexicanAmerican in a rematch after a huge shock in which he was stopped in the seventh round at Madison Square Garden in June.
Joshua said: “Would it be a special moment? I say no because I know I belong here so it’s not special.
“When I regain those belts, I’m going to keep cool and stay focused on the next challenge.
“It’s not a time to celebrate. It’s a time to keep the challenger mindset. One by one I’m picking them off – I’m moving on to the next target – and Ruiz is just the next target on my list.
“I didn’t lose any heart or any fire in my belly. I’m really looking forward to it. There’s no fear in my heart, no fear in my eyes.”
Joshua and Ruiz faced off at the final press conference yesterday beside the venue for Saturday night’s rematch in Diriyah on the outskirts of Riyadh.
Ruiz taunted Joshua by arriving in the New York Knicks jersey he was given before he stopped him in the Garden.
Joshua does not need reminding of his first pro career defeat as he plots revenge.
But the first Mexican heavyweight world champion is in no mood to give up the belts.
Ruiz said: “I’m ready to rock and roll. I know AJ is more motivated, I know he is going to come with a different game plan, that gives me an extra edge.
“I don’t want to let these beautiful belts get away. It has been a long journey to get here.”