The first time I got shot, I treated myself at home... so mum wouldn’t find out Joshua has it so easy
Says DILLIAN WHYTE
DILLIAN WHYTE gets punched for a living and in his younger days was shot and stabbed.
But the 6ft 3in heavyweight reckons the only thing which worries him is letting down his family and, in particular, his mum Janine.
Whyte, who faces Lucas Browne at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday for the WBC Silver heavyweight belt, said: “I got stabbed in a few places.
“I got shot twice as well. In my leg first because I managed to start running once I saw the gun. I didn’t go to A&E – I decided to treat myself at home because I didn’t want my mum to find out that I was getting in trouble and being bad, that I was hiding from the police or whatever.
“She’s a very nice woman, she’s got a good left hook on her. It’s not that I’m scared of her, it’s respect. I never wanted my mum to be disappointed in me. My dad’s scary. It’s just one way with that guy.
“But I did not want to let my mum down or see her suffer or break her heart.
“Even now if she’s unhappy it cuts me really deep. As bad as I was, I never wanted to disappoint my mum.”
Whyte’s mum will be ringside when he takes on Browne in a fight he hopes will lead to another clash with Anthony Joshua (right) or with WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder.
The 29-year-old said: “My mum comes to watch me spar. She hates it but she’s coming to my next fight.
“As much as she can’t stand it she just wants to support me.
“She was there when I lost to AJ. She was distraught but I said: ‘There are two sides to the sport. It’s all good when I’m winning but when I’m losing you’re not used to it.
“I’ve beaten other people and injured other people so now you know how their family feels.’
“They understand that now and they respect that now. It has brought us closer as a family because we win together and lose together.”
As well as providing for his family, Whyte is also motivated to give youngsters who are in the position he once was something to aspire to.
He added: “I’ve probably lived about four different lives.
“I lived the working life, the street life, the boxing life, and the family-guy life.
“I’ve always been a survivor. I’m good at using my instincts when I need to.
“Now I do this for my family. As long as my family is happy, I’m happy.
“And I want to win titles and to inspire people.
“It’s all good having money and a better life, but I don’t do it to show off and be flash, it’s to pay my way.
“I just want to set a good example so people can look back years from now and think: ‘You know what, he was in the same situation I’m in, I can do it.’
“Making a difference doesn’t mean for 100 people. If I can save or change five or 10 people’s lives, hopefully those five or 10 people can change another five or 10 people’s lives. That’s what it’s about.”