Dillian Whyte painted a vivid picture of the excruciating pain he endured from a foot fracture he suffered just weeks before his bout with Moses Itauma. He likened the sensation to "someone dropping a dumbbell on my foot," a description he gave when asked to articulate the intensity of the injury that occurred during a training session last summer.
According to Whyte, the incident happened while he was running; he felt a sudden jolt in his foot, and later, during a sparring round with a group of large, quick partners, a misstep caused the bone to break cleanly. "It was terrible, but we’re used to pulling off miracles and fighting while injured," he said, noting that he managed to make the best of the circumstances and still put together a respectable training camp. By the time fight week arrived, he felt optimistic and genuinely believed he could defeat Moses. Whyte is no stranger to competing with serious physical setbacks.
He famously faced his long‑time rival Anthony Joshua while nursing a severely damaged shoulder, and throughout his heavyweight career he has overcome a range of injuries to become a two‑time WBC interim world champion. However, the damage to his foot proved particularly stubborn. While warming up in the dressing room just hours before his scheduled fight in Saudi Arabia last August, the fracture re‑occurred.
"I started jumping rope, and the foot gave way again – it was completely broken once more," he recounted. A doctor who was on site examined the injury and advised Whyte not to fight. The boxer refused to accept that recommendation, stating, "There’s no way I’m traveling all the way to Saudi and backing out at the last minute." He remained confident that, despite the broken foot, he could still drag Moses into the later rounds and stop him, drawing a parallel to Filip Hrgovic’s recent performance.
During the fight, Whyte attempted to hide the heavily strapped foot, but his limited mobility was evident. Itauma took advantage, unleashing a flurry of punches that forced the referee to stop the contest in the opening round. After the loss, Whyte stayed quiet about the severity of his injury, choosing not to diminish Itauma’s victory.
He explained, "I didn’t want to talk about it and take anything away from his win. I got clocked and he won the fight. I didn’t want to dwell on it, and people seemed to focus only on the fact that I was beaten in one round." Whyte also warned that the public often jumps to conclusions without full information, noting that many fans are quick to suggest retirement based on isolated setbacks. He emphasized that he belongs to a dwindling generation of entertaining British heavyweights and that his continued presence is vital for the sport’s health in the UK.
"I love boxing and I’ll fight anyone. Be grateful we have guys like me around, because when we’re gone, there will be a long drought in the heavyweight division," he said.
The conversation turned to a potential clash with rising prospect Johnny Fisher. Fisher recently called for Whyte’s return, insisting there is a "good chance" the two could meet soon. Whyte embraced the challenge, watching from ringside as Fisher secured a majority‑decision win over Michael Pirotton at the Copper Box Arena. He praised Fisher’s courage and power, describing him as a "big lump" with heart and a willingness to keep coming forward even when the fight gets tough.
Whyte was blunt about his own confidence: "Let’s be honest, I will knock Johnny Fisher out, simple as that." His manager, Michael Ofo, confirmed that Fisher’s team has already given a verbal acceptance to the bout. Ofo recounted a handshake between himself and Fisher’s manager Adam Morallee after Fisher’s recent victory, stating that Morallee responded immediately with enthusiasm: "Absolutely.
Let’s do it next!" Both camps appear eager to finalize the matchup, which would represent a high‑profile all‑British heavyweight showdown in London, likely scheduled for November or December. Ofo summed up the sentiment, "It would be a massive event for London.
So let’s stop talking and get it on!"