Dillian Whyte insists his only focus is on Alexander Povetkin despite ongoing talk of a future clash with WBC world champion Tyson Fury.
WBC interim heavyweight champion, Whyte will ensure a shot at the winner of Fury’s trilogy with Deontay Wilder set for later this year, with victory over Povetkin on Saturday in Matchroom’s Fight Camp finale.
However, the 32-year-old says he won’t be distracted by the possibility of a fight with his British rival and instead is solely focused on former world champion, Povetkin who he expects to be the toughest challenge of his career.
The story of my life is pressure. I’ve been under pressure my entire life,” Whyte said at Thursday’s press conference.
“This is just another puzzle. There is more pressure because of the future, but that’s in the future.
“I’m fighting a consummate professional so I’m not bothered about Tyson Fury. I’m bothered about Povetkin.
“Povetkin is the most technical fighter I’ve fought. He has beaten a lot of top guys.
“He’s an Olympic gold medallist. He’s only lost two fights. When the bell goes it doesn’t matter if there’s 100,000 people there or 100 people. You are zoned in.”
Whyte is expected to come in a lot trimmer when he hits the scales on Friday, than the near 20st he weighed in for his short notice victory over Mariusz Wach in Saudi Arabia in December, having endured a gruelling training camp in Portugal ahead of this high stakes clash.
‘The Body Snatcher’ has warned the Russian he’ll be facing a far stiffer test now he is in optimum condition and says he will gain vital experience should he beat the 40-year-old.
“I had two fights last year but my mind wasn’t right,” Whyte added.
“I put weight on. For my last fight I was nearly 20st. I got myself in shape slowly. I knew who I was fighting, and what it would take. I got into shape.
“When I’m in shape, you’ve got problems, because I can do what I like to do. I don’t mind blowing up because I can recover, go again.
“Whatever he wants to do, I’m cool with it. I don’t like to make predictions.
“He is very experienced and can look after himself. He’s a tough guy. But listen, if I land early? It is night night early. But he can do the same, as well.
“I deal with pressure well. I could have taken an easier fight. These are the fights you need to grow.
“This guy has seen everything, probably 20 guys like me. To beat him, I will bank his experience. This motivates me. I will have to think more than I normally do. It gives me an extra edge.”
Povetkin is no stranger to British shores having brutally knocked out David Price in Cardiff in 2018, before being stopped himself by unified Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua, at Wembley in 2018.
However, ‘Sasha’ whose only other defeat was on points to Wladimir Klitschko in 2013, is unbeaten in his last two bouts having dominated Hughie Fury at the O2 last August and rallied back to take rising American, Michael Hunter II to a draw on the same bill as Whyte in Saudi Arabia in December.
“First of all I would like to thank Eddie [Hearn] for doing this event during a pandemic,” Povetkin said at Thursday’s press conference.
“I’m very happy to be here. Thanks to Dillian also for taking this fight. Hopefully it will be a great fight in the Heavyweight division.
“I have taken responsibility to train for this fight, understanding how serious it is.
“You have to take Dillian seriously. I don’t like to make predictions – but it will be fireworks…”
The coveted WBC Diamond belt is also at stake in Brentwood and Whyte is also anticipating a vicious battle.
“I’m ready for chaos and violence,” Whyte continued.
“I am focused on Povetkin. I will try to hurt him from the first bell.
“It will be war – that’s what he does. The great thing is that we both do similar things.
“It’s up to me to do things to make the fight in my favour, and I am capable of that.
“He is more experienced but I know how to fight, which isn’t something anyone can teach.”
