Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte – Who wins the 'War at Wembley'
The stage is set for 94,000 fervent fight fans to finally get their money's worth on the national Patron Saints Day of England.
Wembley Stadium will be filled with excitable, expectant onlookers apprehensively awaiting the biggest fight of the year between the WBC World heavyweight champion and the No.1 mandatory contender to his title.
BBN asked the question everyone has been asking – Who wins and why?
Lennox Lewis
Former Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion
"I think it will be interesting since we have Kronk trainers in both corners. Harold 'Shadow' Knight, who was on my team with Emmanuel Steward, will be in Whyte's corner. SugarHill Steward will be in Fury's corner.
"I've learned not to bet against Fury. You know what I say, a good big'un beats a good little'un.
"No doubt that the Kronk influence is still prevalent at the top of the heavyweight division. You've got the best heavyweight of his generation and WBC champion. He's facing a young man in Dillian who has been waiting for his shot. He has got the fight, and we know he is in great shape and condition. we have looked at some of the footage and seen how hard he has trained. But he has got to train hard when you are fighting a guy like Tyson Fury because Tyson has trained hard. We've had quite a few conversations over the last weeks and he said to me that this is the best training camp he has ever had. This is undoubtedly a testament to SugarHill and all the team for getting him to where he is at.
"You've got both of these guys in tip-top fighting condition, so what are you going to get on the night? A great fight!"
David Haye
Former World Heavyweight Champion
"I'd go with Dillian Whyte, pulling off the massive, massive upset. It happens, crazy stuff happens,and and in the heavyweight division when you think you've got it all figured out something crazy happens, someone crazy is Dillian Whyte and the fact that he is not interested in doing any promotion, all he wants to do is get in the ring and fight, and I think that's a positive omen."
Eddie Hearn
Matchroom Boxing Promoter
"I'm excited for the fight and I think Dillian Whyte could win the fight and obviously we're fully behind him.
"He's up against it, Tyson Fury is the best heavyweight in the world on paper right now, but he has the ability to take Tyson Fury out. He's got to time it right, got to land it right, and you know, anything could happen."
Ricky Hatton
Former Two-Weight World Champion
"I think if he goes back a little bit to the 'Old Tyson', you know, box him let the storm blow itself out a little bit and then put his foot on the gas down the home straight, I think he could probably stop Dillian. If he goes in the trenches deep a little bit early… I mean Tyson shows a great chin, he keeps getting up, but one day that day will come where you don't get up, and that's what I worry for my mate."
Carl Frampton
Former Two-weight World Champion
"Tyson Fury to win late – rounds 10-12."
Denzel Bentley
Former British middleweight champion
“Dillian’s best approach is to smother Fury’s work but since Fury has joined Sugar Hill [Steward] he has learned to fight a lot better on the inside. I don’t think Whyte will have fought anyone this tall and heavy. The whole show is about Fury and I think all eyes will be on him, that will sway the judges’ opinions.
“I’m rooting for Dillian but my smart money would be on Fury. I do think Dillian will start well but once Fury has warmed up I think he’ll figure out how to approach the situation and outbox Whyte.”
Shaun Rye
Boxing Writer
"I think fury has too much for Whyte. Of course, heavyweight boxing can surprise us, that's why people love the big boys, but I don't think Whyte has the engine to apply enough sustained pressure to trouble Fury.
"Fury round 5-8 is my prediction."
Larry Olubamiwo
Former Southern Area Heavyweight Champion
"Tyson Fury wins this fight however he wants, to be honest with you.
"I don't see what Dillian can do in this fight, he's not as big a puncher as Deontay Wilder, nowhere near, so he's not going to stop Fury, he's not going to outbox him either, he's not going to outmove Fury, he's not going to outthink Fury, we pretty much know what Dillian Whyte does. He's got heart, he comes to fight, but he's very limited."
Joseph Parker
Former World Heavyweight Champion
"Dillian is very tough, game, strong, got power in his left hook. They have history, they have been sparring partners, they've trained alongside each other, but I think ultimately Tyson Fury will finish him off before round six."
Tony Bellew
Former World Cruiserweight Champion
"I'm not sure, a part of me does edge towards Dillian Whyte but at the same time you can look past Tyson Fury and how good his boxing abiity is."
Tim Rickson
BBN Editor
"I'll say straightaway that I'm 'Team Fury'. Ever since he signed up to fight David Haye, back in 2013, I believed he was the best heavyweight in the world. He took that Haye fight very early on in his career and it immediately made me think there must something about him. Of course, it sadly didn't materialise, but when he dominated the dominant heavyweight champ, Wlad Klitschko, in his own backyard in 2015, that's when he backed up my belief, and has proven his status as the world's best heavyweight ever since.
"As a Londoner myself, I'm a fan of Dillian Whyte and always will him to do well. However, I'm not sure I share the same views as most people who really rate him, as I've never been overly impressed by his performances. That said, I think he is going to be in the best form of his life in this fight. He is clearly a force to be reckoned with to have been No.1 contender for so long. He's also obviously dangerous, because I'm nervous that he could pull off the upset, so I must actually rate him on some subconscious level.
"I firmly believe that Tyson is better than Dillian in every department, but this is heavyweight boxing and one punch can change everything. Having been downed four times by Deontay Wilder and undoubtedly proven his miraculous recovery abilities, there shouldn't be any heavyweight in the world that can stop him… surely?!! If Whyte does score a knockdown, which I fully believe he is capable of doing, then history should dictaate that he will get back up again.
"SugarHill Steward has instilled the Kronk Gym mentality into Tyson and the two have bonded quickly, forming one of the greatest pairings in recent boxing history. The game plan will be the same for the last two fights, to go for the knockout in round one, two, three… right the way up to round 12. That's their outright goal, so I'm backing Tyson to win by knockout, but I'll admit I'm nervous for him, I've just got this nagging gut feeling it could all go wrong. I hope my gut is wrong and Tyson wins in the mid-rounds."
Craig Richards
World Title Contender
“It is a 50-50 fight. Dillian has got a good chance of going in there, roughing Tyson up, breaking him down and getting the stoppage.
“A lot of people have written him off, but styles make fights. You’d have to have Fury as the favourite – he’s the world champion and unbeaten – but this is Dillian’s big opportunity and he’ll go for it.
“He needs to keep working the body and letting his hands go in bunches. I’d love to see him do it for South London.”
Leon McKenzie
English Title Contender
“I’m leaning on the fence a bit because I feel like Dillian could cause an upset. He has got the ability to shock a lot of people, because everyone sees Tyson Fury as the man, that he can do no wrong and is perfect.
“You’re looking at someone in Tyson Fury who is pretty special but Dillian has shown his resilience – he’s won major fights and lost major fights but always been able to come back with a force. He has grown so much as a fighter.
“Dillian has got the pedigree to maybe unsettle Tyson and can be just as awkward. If it goes the distance you favour Tyson.”
Chris Bourke
Former British super-bantam champion
“Tyson Fury is so big and awkward – Dillian has to get on his chest and try to rough him up. But I just feel Tyson will be too tricky to do that to. I see it being a frustrating fight for Whyte.
“It is going to be entertaining. Dillian is a lot tougher than Deontay Wilder [beaten twice by Fury, who boxed aggressively on the front foot]. Dillian can whack and you know he will be up for it. It will be one that you can’t take your eyes off because Fury has been dropped by smaller punches than him.”
Martin Theobald
Boxing Writer/Pundit
"Personally, I see Fury getting a stoppage win somewhere between round 7 and 10. Being too big, too strong for Dillian, but I see Dillian really taking him into deep waters, maybe dropping Tyson once, maybe twice during the fight. I think Tyson will want to engage in those close-quarter battles, don't really make too much sense for him to do so, but seems to be that SugarHill style that he's adapting, but I can see him coming away with the win, I can see it being a brilliant fight."
James Cook
Former European and British super middleweight champion
“I do see the fight going a long way but if Dillian can’t get to Tyson early and slow him down then he might have problems running up to the line. Dillian is going to have to do a lot of movement on his feet to get near enough to throw his trademark body shots, and he is not that type of fighter.
“The fight Dillian Whyte wants is for Tyson Fury to come to him and we know that’s not going to happen. Tyson is ahead of him boxing wise and he’ll use that long reach.
“Dillian has got to be on his toes to roll on to his body shots, what you don’t want to happen is that he gets close enough for Tyson to tie him up – Tyson is very good at those type of things.
“He has got to focus on the body, not anything else, and staying in the fight. If he can do that for the first six rounds then he stands a very good chance.”
Steven Gerrard
Aston Villa FC Manager
"Fury, for me, is someone we should just enjoy – to be alive at the same time and being able to watch him. I think it will be comfortable and he'll stop him in the sixth at some point."
More predictions from footballers here…
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