Dillian Whyte and David Allen have promised fans they will see a Heavyweight war when the bitter rivals meet at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on July 30, live on Sky Sports.
After months of heated exchanges on social media, Whyte issued a challenge to Allen’s manager at last week’s press conference – one that was accepted over the weekend by the Sheffield man’s team.
The pair will get in the ring in Yorkshire for the WBC International strap – but both men say that there’s more at stake than the belt and there’s no way the fight can go the distance.
“He’s been shouting my name for ages now so he’s got to step up – he’s going to get KO’d on July 30,” said Whyte. “He said that he’s 100 per cent convinced he can beat me – so we’ll see.
“I just want to get in there and have a fight with a Heavyweight that’s going to come and have a go, so I hope he backs it up.”
“This isn’t about belts and titles, it’s about bragging rights – I don’t like him and he doesn’t like me,” said Allen. “We’re going to stick it on each other and there’s no way that it’s going to go 12 rounds – it’s going to be chin down and bombs away, let’s see who is the last man standing.”
“I’m so pleased these two have finally agreed to get it on,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “It’s one of the best domestic Heavyweight fights out there and it’s added to a massive Leeds show. I will be re-applying to the board to make this fight for the British title with both agreeing to fight Sam Sexton in their first defence – I hope common sense prevails and we can get one of the most prestigious belts in boxing active.”
Whyte and Allen’s clash is part of a huge night of action in Leeds where Josh Warrington defends his WBC International Featherweight title against Patrick Hyland.
Luke Campbell MBE faces his toughest test in the paid ranks to date in the shape of former World champion Argenis Mendez, Huddersfield man Tyrone Nurse defends his British Super Lightweight title in an all-Yorkshire affair with Hull’s Tommy Coyle, Barnsley’s Josh Wale gets a shot at the Commonwealth Super-Bantamweight title against Birmingham’s unbeaten starlet Gamal Yafai and classy Belfast man Ryan Burnett defends his WBC International Bantamweight title.
Tickets are on sale now priced at £30, £40, £60 and £100 available from the First Direct Arena at www.firstdirectarena.comand on 0844 248 1585. VIP tickets priced at £150 are available exclusively from Matchroom Boxing at www.matchroomboxing.com.
Tickets for July 30 are also available from http://www.stubhub.co.uk/matchroom-boxing-tickets/ – StubHub is the official ticket partner and marketplace of Matchroom Boxing.
