Dillian Whyte will be forced to wait until February 2021 to become the mandatory challenger to fight WBC world champion Deontay Wilder provided his “situation is resolved” with UK Anti-Doping.
The British heavyweight beat Oscar Rivas to seemingly earn a shot at world honours for the first time, but the WBC suspended his status over an alleged “adverse finding” in a UK Anti-Doping test, though Whyte maintains he won the fight “fair and square”.
But with Wilder set to face Luis Ortiz on November 23 and a rematch against Tyson Fury after, the WBC will only promote Whyte to mandatory challenger at the start of 2021.
A WBC statement read: ”No 1 ranked Dillian Whyte’s situation is in process with UKAD and Whyte’s representatives, and with the WBC.
“If his situation is resolved, he will become the mandatory challenger for February, 2021.”
Wilder insists his rematch with Ortiz will be more fun than the first fight, which he maintains was his toughest test to date.
“When I fought Ortiz, not only did he have the pedigree, but also he had the classification of being the boogeyman of the division,” Wilder said.
“I agree with those who say that Luis Ortiz was my toughest fight to date. No one wanted to fight him and they still don’t.
“In the rematch, there’s more confidence and more motivation to do what I have to do. I’ve already seen the style before.
“It’s going to make it more fun. I can’t wait to see how he tries to handle me when I’m at my best.”
