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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Liam Llewellyn

Dillian Whyte will accept 80-20 Tyson Fury purse split if appeal is unsuccessful

Dillian Whyte has reluctantly accepted to split the purse 80-20 ahead of a proposed fight with Tyson Fury if his appeal to increase his share is unsuccessful.

The 33-year-old was offered the minimal percentage of the fight fee despite his status as the interim champion and The Gypsy King’s mandatory challenger.

Whyte and his team are livid with the decision and have launched an arbitration against the WBC.

The boxer’s promoter Eddie Hearn expects that to kybosh the purse bids that were scheduled for Mexico City next week.

The Matchroom boss said: “There is a lot going on legally behind the scenes with Dillian and the WBC, we are not at all happy with the 80-20 split ruling and there is a process now that we have to go through to object.

Dillian Whyte will accept minimal purse percentage for a fight with Tyson Fury if his appeal is turned down (Getty Images)

“He would accept it once an arbitration or court has taken place because he feels very strongly.”

He added: “He feels 80-20 is not fair but if the Court of Arbitration decides it is then I think he will proceed.

“The offers that have come to Dillian so far have not been acceptable. But the number we bid at purse bids probably will be, so he is in no rush to take unfair deals.

“But we expect the split to be increased via the process we are going through.”

Ever since Fury successfully defended his title against Deontay Wilder in their epic trilogy fight last October, the boxing world were keen to know who his next challenger would be.

Whyte was scheduled to fight Otto Wallin to determine Fury's next opponent, but the Body Snatcher withdrew due to injury.

However, the WBC named Whyte as the mandatory challenger to Fury and while negotiations are in progress, a bout has yet to be agreed.

Despite the length of time it is taking to seal the deal, Hearn is confident Whyte and Fury will square off in the future.

“I expect it to be delayed,” he said. “I don’t see how it can go ahead, with the arbitration case ongoing.

“I absolutely think the fight will happen, even at 80-20 and it’s not about Dillian’s split, it is about the valuation of the fight and that will help us win the purse bid.

“But I think that will be delayed because of the arbitration - but that is down to the WBC.”

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