Remember that feeling when you first start out in your new career as a trainee or an apprentice. Do you remember how you stumbled and fumbled your way through those early years never really sure what you were doing or even if you were doing to right. With every year that passed all you wanted to do is get better at your job, the thought of actually progressing your career never enters your mind, you just want to get to a qualified level and eventually you get there. The years pass like they always do and suddenly you start to look up the way, you are no longer satisfied with where you are, you want to take that next step up the ladder, this is where Dillian Whyte is now at in his career.
Whyte may not be everyones cup of tea but no one can deny that “The Body Snatcher” is now one of the UK’s biggest boxing stars. As years go 2018 was an absolute blinder for the 30 year old Brixton man beating former World Champions Lucas Browne and Joseph Parker whilst becoming a PPV star along the way, something of a dying breed now in the UK.
Whyte may have done everything asked of him in the ring but his success was only made possible due to the opportunities Eddie Hearn and Matchroom got him. With the lack of PPV fighters now at Matchroom and Sky demanding Eddie Hearn fill PPV dates Whyte and Hearn needed each other and it paid off big time. There has always been a problem lurking on the horizon that was sure to come to the fore eventually.
Ever since Olympic Gold Medalist Anthony Joshua turned pro he has teamed up with Eddie Hearn and together they have taken British boxing to a whole new level. When it comes to boxing there are few bigger names than the 29 year old Watford man in the sport. Selling out stadiums, massive PPV sales, hundreds of endorsements deals with major brands, Joshua truly is a promoters dream and that leaves Dillian Whyte in an awkward position.
It is human nature that with success comes an inflated ego. That thing that goes past self confidence and becomes an overbearing feeling of self worth. We are now seeing cracks appearing in the Whyte/Hearn relationship. The Brixton man has been open about the idea of leaving Eddie Hearn, even admitting he was flirting with other promoters whilst in the US for Pacquiao/Broner fight. Whyte is at a cross road in his career. He must decided if he is happy to plod along with Eddie making good money but always being the bridesmaid, never the bride or is it time to let his ego fly. At 30 years old Dillion may never be in this strong position again and it is imperative that he plays the right hand here. Eddie Hearn has made Dillian Whyte a very wealthy man, Is Whyte willing to risk all that for a shot at glory.
Steven Donnell
djayboxing 