Is Dillian Whyte The Heavyweight Divisions Forgotten man?

At the moment I think we can all agree that boxing is booming around the world, but particularly the heavyweight division. With everyone talking about the likes of Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker and Deontay Wilder, many people are even talking about Tyson Fury getting into the world title picture. Nobody is talking about Dillian Whyte in the same breath has he become the heavyweight divisions forgotten man?

The Body Snatcher is back in action in the ring this weekend when he makes his first defence of his WBC Sliver title. Normally if he was to win a fight like this he would be first in line for a shot at Wilder’s title but somehow I can’t see that happening, so my question is why? In 2012 his career looked all but over when he tested positive for the banned drug Metlhexanamie as a result he was banned from boxing for 2 years. He stepped back into the ring on the 28th November 2014 when he knocked out Thomas Mrazek in the 3rd round. He then went on a 5 fight knockout streak winning the WBC International Sliver title along the way.

Then on the 12th December 2015 thanks in large part to social media he got the fight he had been demanding against Anthony Joshua in a true boxing classic

Despite losing the fight it did his career no harm because he was the first man to take Joshua past the 3rd round and he was the first man to land clean on Joshua’s chin and rock him, before been knocked out in the 7th round. For most boxers losing a fight means that they have to go back and rebuild, but this fight put him back on the world map and his name on the lips of boxing fans he was been talked about then as a future world champion but it still hasn’t happened for him.

After the Joshua fight he had a long lay off to deal with a shoulder injury, however his in ring career continued to go from strength to strength in 2016 he joined up with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom in the hope of getting that elusive title shot. 1 fight after he lost to Joshua he was in a title fight for the WBC International title a fight he won by unanimous decision. Again people where talking about him taking on Wilder, but instead he fought Ian Lewison for the British title winning the fight with a 10th round stoppage.

On the 10 December 2016 on the undercard of the Joshua Molina fight he took on his long time domestic rival Derick Chisora in an eliminator for the WBC title. The pair went to war for 12 hard rounds, with the fight going one way then the other he won a tight split decision in one of the best fights I have ever seen. Again people where talking about him challenging Wilder but once again the fight never happened. In his next fight he made a dramatic statement on his US debut scoring a 3rd round knockout over Malcolm Tann.

In his next fight he once again won a WBC title when he won the WBC Sliver title winning a unanimous decision over Robert Helenius. So it seems to me like he’s done everything he should have done to earn a shot at the WBC title and if he wins on Saturday that should move him to the head of the line. Now don’t get me wrong I would love to see Joshua take on Wilder to unify the titles but assuming that he wins on Saturday and Joshua beats Parker I think he should get a shot at the title before Joshua.

I know that this is a controversial subject that is no doubt going to divide opinions but think about it what is the point of having international and sliver titles or title eliminators if you don’t get a shot at the world title.

I love to hear from you guys so comment below and let me know your thoughts is Dillian Whyte the forgotten man.