After clarifying that his failed drug test was due to a contaminated supplement, 35-year-old heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte is ready to step back into the ring swiftly. According to Sky Sports, Whyte will be facing Christian Hammer in Ireland, with the fight set to take place on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th.
This match-up is a solid return for Whyte, with German boxer Hammer having fought top opponents like Tyson Fury, Alexander Povetkin, Luis Ortiz, and David Price. While Price acknowledged that Hammer is a strong competitor, it is widely anticipated that Whyte will emerge victorious.
Whyte was on track for a rematch with Anthony Joshua before the controversy surrounding the tainted supplement emerged. Despite the setback, Whyte remains a prominent figure in the boxing world and is looking to resume his career, potentially leading to more significant opportunities down the line.
Having last competed in a contentious decision win over Jermaine Franklin in November 2022, Whyte, with a record of 29-3 (19 KOs), is eager to return to the sport he loves.
Expressing his excitement about his comeback, Whyte stated to Sky Sports, “I’m thrilled to be back in action. Time is ticking, and I’m keen to get back into the mix.”
Regarding a potential rematch with Joshua, the latter mentioned in an interview with IFL TV that a second bout between them could indeed happen, indicating that there is still interest in such a matchup.
With the unpredictability of the heavyweight division, if Whyte can deliver some impressive knockout victories, he may well find himself in contention for another significant fight before his career concludes.
Hammer, who is slightly older than Whyte, holds a respectable record of 27-10 (17 wins), with Joe Joyce being the last fighter to defeat him. Unless an upset occurs, it is anticipated that Whyte will add his name to the list of boxers who have bested Hammer.