Dillian Whyte painted a vivid picture of the excruciating pain he endured in the weeks leading up to his clash with Moses Itauma. He likened the sensation to "someone dropping a dumbbell on my foot," a stark way to convey the severity of the fracture he suffered during a training session last summer.
According to Whyte, the injury occurred in a seemingly ordinary moment. He was running when he first felt something wrong in his foot.
Later, while sparring with larger, more agile partners, a misstep while retreating caused the bone to snap cleanly. "It was terrible, but we’re used to pulling off miracles and fighting through injuries," he said, emphasizing the gritty mindset that heavy‑weight fighters often adopt.
Despite the broken foot, Whyte managed to put together a respectable preparation camp. He entered fight week feeling optimistic and genuinely believed he could outbox Moses. This confidence was not unfounded; Whyte has a history of competing while nursing serious injuries.
He famously faced his bitter rival Anthony Joshua while battling a severely damaged shoulder, and throughout his career he has overcome a litany of physical setbacks to claim the WBC interim heavyweight title on two occasions. However, the foot injury proved stubborn. On the day of the bout in Saudi Arabia last August, the fracture re‑asserted itself while Whyte was warming up in the dressing room. "I started jumping rope, and the foot gave out again – it was a complete re‑fracture," he recounted.
The team called the ringside doctor, who advised against fighting. Whyte, determined not to waste the trip to Saudi, refused to back down. "There’s no way I’m going to travel all the way here and quit at the last minute," he declared. He maintained that he could still drag Moses into the later rounds, drawing a parallel to the way Filip Hrgovic had recently stopped his opponent.
Yet, once the fight began, the lack of mobility was evident. Itauma took advantage, unloading a flurry of punches that forced a stoppage in the opening round.
Whyte’s heavily strapped foot limited his movement, and the bout ended quickly. After the loss, Whyte chose not to dwell on his injury, preferring to give credit to Itauma’s performance.
"I didn’t want to take anything away from his win. I got clocked and he won the fight," he said. He noted that the public often jumps to conclusions without the full context, especially when a fighter suffers a quick defeat. "People have short memories and love to say ‘retire because of this, retire because of that,’ but they don’t realize we’re part of a rare generation of entertaining British heavyweights nearing the end of our careers," Whyte added.
He reaffirmed his love for the sport, stating, "I love boxing and I’ll fight anyone. Be grateful we’re still around because once we’re gone, the heavyweight division could face a long drought." This sentiment sets the stage for his next potential opponent: Johnny Fisher. Fisher publicly called out Whyte last week, suggesting there’s a "good chance" the two could meet soon. Whyte responded positively and was even present ringside as Fisher secured a majority‑decision win over Michael Pirotton at the Copper Box Arena.
"Credit to Johnny Fisher – he’s a big lad, still learning, but he’s got courage, heart, and power," Whyte praised. He described Fisher as frantic at times but undeniably brave, noting that the younger fighter keeps coming forward even when the odds are stacked against him.
Whyte didn’t hide his confidence: "You can never overlook that, but let’s be honest, I will knock Johnny Fisher out, simple as that." His manager, Michael Ofo, confirmed that a verbal agreement is already in place, with Fisher’s team having shaken hands on the deal after Fisher’s recent victory. Ofo said, "I wasn’t sure if Fisher’s camp would take the fight, so I called Adam Morallee. He said, ‘Absolutely.
Let’s do it next!’" Both camps see the matchup as a blockbuster all‑British heavyweight showdown, likely to be staged in London later this year, possibly in November or December. Ofo summed it up: "It would be a massive event for London.
So let’s stop talking and get it on!" The prospect of Whyte returning to the ring after his foot ordeal, combined with Fisher’s rising profile, promises an exciting chapter for UK boxing fans. In summary, Whyte’s recent narrative is one of resilience amid injury, a willingness to fight despite medical advice, and a forward‑looking eye toward a high‑profile domestic clash. Whether he ultimately steps back into the ring against Fisher remains to be confirmed, but the dialogue between the two camps suggests a bout could materialise before the year ends, offering British boxing a much‑anticipated headline event.