Whyte displays hunger in the chilled-out world of Matchroom’s bubble
week, with drinks on the terrace and impromptu games of cricket on the lawn between ex-boxers and staff (rain finally stopped play on Wednesday).
There seems a genuine air of camaraderie, and a lack of testosterone-fuelled pre-fight hype. Adjacent to the terrace is a media room packed with sets for different internet shows, one of which Hearn – ever the ringmaster – presents an episode of his own daily chat show on Matchroom Boxing’s media channels. The conviviality is genuine, yet there is serious business to be done too – as Whyte knows only too well.
The Briton looks in impeccable shape after 14 weeks in a training camp in Portugal. He arrived by private jet from Fuerteventura to
Southend Airport, had his Covid-19 test, and went into isolation in the Winnebago (he has two of them). Now he is reclining in one of the plush leather seats, like a man without a care in the world.
Yet the truth is that this is the most significant weekend in boxing since the pandemic hit. The outcome of his fight with Povetkin, the two-time world title challenger against Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua, has huge implications for the heavyweight division, involving Joshua, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.
If Whyte has nerves, or concerns, they are well hidden. He is calm, and insists he simply wants to fight.
“This doesn’t bother me. I’m a risk-taker. I can’t sit around and not fight. Povetkin is a tough fight, but I believe I will win it,” explains Whyte, the World Boxing Council interim heavyweight champion. “When I was a kid I had to take risks, I had to. I had to eat. I can’t get left to die. I took a lot of risks. Life does one of two things, it breaks you or makes you stronger. I realised early I have to take risks to stand out. I’m prepared to take the risk and I’m willing to live with the consequences of those risks.”
Hearn is also in no doubt as to Whyte’s heart. “Dillian wanted this fight, was prepared to take the risk of losing his place to fight the winner of Fury and Wilder,” he says. “Like everyone else here, he is relieved and actually savouring being at an event again.”
That clearly also applies to Hearn, who lives for big occasions such as this. There have already been three events in Brentwood during lockdown – their staging has been crucial to sustaining interest and finances in boxing – but none bigger than this one.
“There is a sense of ‘we are all in this together’ and people have responded as such. We’ve had a little bit of argy-bargy, these guys and girls are still fighters, but it has been a shared experience. But I am glad Dillian’s in his own home in the back garden. He’s so ready to go. And he looks in phenomenal shape,” Hearn says.
The man in question has just been working out and, big grin, body glistening, the WBC interim champion is eager for the battle.
“I just want to fight the best fighters,” Whyte says. “If Fury beats Wilder or Wilder beats Fury, they’re the best. I just want to fight. But I think Fury is going to win again.”
Then there is the Joshua rematch. “Oh, that would mean the world to me. I’ve got things to focus on now, though. I’ve got Povetkin to focus on and the WBC mandatory to focus on. Hopefully Tyson Fury will fight me and not vacate. Then we’ll really see.”
Whyte v Povetkin is live on Sky Box Office tonight from 7pm
‘We’ve had a little bit of argy-bargy – they are all still fighters – but it is a shared experience’