Dillian Whyte will face undefeated American contender Jermaine Franklin in his highly anticipated return to the ring on Saturday, November 26 at OVO Arena, Wembley, live worldwide on DAZN.
‘The Body Snatcher’ (28-3, 19 KOs) failed in his showdown for Tyson Fury’s WBC heavyweight world championship belt at Wembley Stadium in April, suffering a loss in the second round six in front of more than 90,000 fans.
Brixton, 35-year-old former WBC interim heavyweight world champion, will fight at OVO Arena, Wembley for the first time in his career as he looks to start his journey towards a second hit at world title.
Franklin of Michigan (21-0, 14 KOs) is undefeated in 21 matches since joining the pro ranks in April 2015 and the 28-year-old will fight outside the US for the first time in his career. his pro when he met Whyte over 12 rounds in London.
Once billed as America’s next heavyweight hope, Franklin ended a two-and-a-half year layoff by stopping Houston’s Rodney Moore for five rounds at McBride Hall in Gary, Indiana in May to stretched his perfect record.
An action-packed hand saw the rapid rise of Ipswich Heavyweight Fabio Wardley (14-0, 13 KOs) clash with Nantwhich’s Nathan Gorman (19-1, 13 KOs) for the vacant British Title, WBA WBA Light-Heavyweight World Title challenger Craig Richards (17-3-1, 10 KOs) takes on Latvian fighter Ricards Bolotniks (19-6-1, 8 KOs) in an exciting division bout 175lbs and Sandy Ryan (4-1, 2 KOs) of Derby challenge Mexico’s Magali Rodriguez (20-6-2, 9 KOs) for her WBC Light Heavyweight Title.
Wardley, 27, stopped Simon Vallily for three innings of their hotly anticipated grudge bout to win the vacant British Title at Fight Camp in August 2020 before beating Nick Webb in a round to held the belt a year later at Matchroom’s HQ in Essex.
Gorman, whose only loss came at the hands of Daniel Dubois in July 2019, wiped out 15 months of impotence in his final game in June, edging past Tomas Salek in just 81 seconds to win it. IBF Intercontinental Title at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
Crystal Palace’s Richards put in a spirited performance as he pushed WBA Champion Dmitry Bivol any way in his bid to win his first World Championship in May 2021. ‘Spider’ returns won again by stopping Marek Matyja impressively for six rounds before falling far behind South London. Joshua Buatsi at The O2 earlier this year.
Bolotniks, who won against Steven Ward and Hosea Burton, will be familiar to UK fighting fans after his brave battle with Olympic bronze medalist Buatsi at Matchroom’s second installment on last summer – where he was eventually stopped in the eleventh round of their WBA’s International Title Clash.
Former Team GB star Ryan won his second professional title after exacting revenge on Erica Anabella Farias – the only woman to beat her – at Sheffield Arena in August to claim the WBC international class belt. super light is left blank.
Whyte said: “It’s great to be back and doing what I love. “I can’t wait to get into the ring and show the world that when it comes to pushback, I can be right back at Wembley and remind everyone why I’ve been WBC number one for over four years.
“As an undefeated weight class, Franklin is a dangerous guy but I will teach him a few lessons at OVO on November 26. Most importantly, I will teach him how to lose.”
Franklin said: “I am very excited to be fighting in Great Britain. “They love boxing and I plan to announce when I beat Dillian. I want them to be loud and love my boxing style and for them to embrace me as everyone’s champion. The world will see Jermaine Franklin Jr.
“Dillian is a warrior. He has a heart and he is always with the best people. It’s time for him to step aside and let ‘Killer 989’ make him number 22 on my body. The kind of fight I expected was a brawl. Dillian wants to prove that he has something left in the tank. I wanted to show him I was the future of American boxing and heavyweight.
“When I beat Dillian, I want this win to be followed by a title or a big fight to get me to the title. I’m like Holyfield. I am a warrior. I come from the hood. You have to take my heart and that will never happen in the ring. I have speed and strength. I have no problem getting a punch to land mine. I’m America’s next heavyweight champion. “
“I’m so excited to fight for the British title, I’ve been eyeing this belt for so long and I can’t wait to get my hands on it,” Wardley said. “Nathan Gorman is a great fighter, but nothing will stop me from marking the next milestone in my career. I thrive under the pressure of big fights like this, I live for it, there’s no better feeling than standing on his hand and holding it up. I take my chances when they come, I won’t need any second chances like he did.
“I have never trained harder, I have never been annoyed, like the stars have arranged for this camp and everything is coming together perfectly. I’ve made leaps and bounds with new additions to my coaching staff and I’m improving my technique every day. That combined with my natural athleticism and serious KO prowess, there was nothing Nathan could bring to stop me. “
“This is my second chance to fight for the British Title, so I had to take it with both hands and this time it went nowhere but coming home to me,” Gorman said. “It was against Fabio Wardley, and I knew I was going to face the best Wardley ever to make it to that round. Unfortunately for him, that will be met with the best of Nathan Gorman, who is improving every second he spends in that gym.
“What I have that he doesn’t have is experience. I was there with the harder questions that I went through and answered, while I was his acid test. It would be interesting if he outlasted round 5 or 6, he had an eye cut off and things didn’t go his way. He won’t be able to match what I bring.”
“I am delighted to welcome one of the biggest stars of heavyweight boxing to the DAZN platform,” said Matchroom Sport President Eddie Hearn. “The Body Snatcher is hungrier than ever after failing his first World Title challenge earlier this year and he jumped right back at the end against a young and dangerous boxer. in Jermaine Franklin. Expect maximum level of violence in the main event between UK and US.
“We’ve got an incredible pad in store for you at the OVO Arena, Wembley on November 26 including the vacant British Heavyweight belt clash between Fabio Wardley and Nathan Gorman, what a fantastic match. at 175 lbs between Old World Title challenger Craig Richards and Ricards Bolotniks and Sandy Ryan will take another title against Magali Rodriguez of Mexico. Catch them all live worldwide on DAZN. “
“Nathan has made a great comeback this year after 18 months of fighting, with his quick IBF title win being proof of that,” said Wasserman Global Head of Boxing, Kalle Sauerland.
“Of course, the British heavyweight championship is one of the most respected titles in boxing and will take him further into the world arena. We are very confident that Nathan will get the job done by November 26 and set up a HUGE 2023.”
Joseph Markowski, Managing Director of DAZN North America, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Dillian Whyte, one of the biggest names in heavyweight boxing, to the ring on November 26, “Jermaine.” Franklin will be a tough test for Dillian with a stacked top battle filled with action-packed matches including Wardley vs. Gorman, Richards vs. Bolotniks and of course a future star in Sandy Ryan. Don’t miss this fight! Direct and exclusive and part of your DAZN subscription worldwide. “
Ticket details will be released shortly.
