DILLIAN WHYTE’S trainer Dave Coldwell has taken to social media to defend the British heavyweight in the wake of his defeat to Alexander Povetkin.
The 32-year-old was surprisingly KO’d in the fifth round of Saturday night’s Fight Camp bout with Povetkin, 40.
And while the result will go into the great library of heavyweight shocks, Whyte’s willingness to enter the ring with dangerous opponents when due a shot at WBC champ Tyson Fury should be applauded, according to Coldwell.
The 45-year-old wrote: “All I see on my socials is how fighters should fight the best out there, take the tough fights against dangerous opponents to prove they’re the best. ‘Prove they’re worthy.’
“Those same people that say all that are usually the same that laugh when a boxer loses a fight at a high level, taking the p*** from the comfort of they’re own mobile phone or laptop knowing full well if they were in a fighters position they’d take the easiest route to the top as possible.
“In fact f*** that, 99% of the trolls wouldn’t have the bollocks to face a flyweights power in the ring, live on TV never mind a big punching heavyweights.
“Look at the recent record of @dillianwhyte – opposition he CHOSE to fight knowing he’s in line for a crack at the World Title.
“Who has the bigger b*******.. him or the trolls?
“Who deserves more respect win or lose.. him or the warriors of social media?
“Opinions are always welcome. Trolls, as always, can go get f***ed.”
And Whyte himself, who was knocked out cold by a ferocious Povetkin uppercut, insists he has no regrets about taking the fight on.
He told Sky Sports News: “I have no regrets, it was a great fight.
“Povetkin did well. Like I said, I know I can beat him, I know I could beat him.
“I showed that from round one. From round one I was getting onto him, but obviously he’s a very experienced guy.
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“His corner was on the verge of pulling him out and he pulled out one of the punches of his career.
“But that’s heavyweight boxing, it’s full of drama, ups and downs.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that Whyte has a rematch clause, and the man himself has admitted that he won’t waste any time before attempting to avenge the loss.
He continued: “I was bossing the fight, I was winning the fight, I got clocked, it’s heavyweight boxing.
“It’s not like I got beat up round after round, I got clocked, that’s all. He dipped low, I shoot the hook, he came with the uppercut and that was it.
“The main thing is we’ve got a rematch, we’re gonna exercise the rematch, try and get it done by the end of the year.”
