Whyte to face Rivas on July 20
The top heavyweight contender will face the unbeaten Colombian in London.
Dillian Whyte’s return is set, and no, he will not be traveling to New York for a June 1 rematch with Anthony Joshua.
Matchroom Boxing have announced that Whyte, a top-ranked heavyweight contender, will face unbeaten Oscar Rivas at London’s O2 Arena on July 20, airing on Sky Box Office in the United Kingdom and likely on DAZN in the United States.
Whyte (25-1, 18 KO) has won nine straight fights since his 2015 loss to Joshua, and in 2018 stepped it up nicely, scoring wins over Lucas Browne, Joseph Parker, and Dereck Chisora in a December rematch of a 2016 war.
The 31-year-old Whyte and promoter Eddie Hearn have been angling for him to be slotted as mandatory challenger for the WBC heavyweight title, which will be defended by Deontay Wilder on May 18 against Dominic Breazeale, but Hearn also stressed that Whyte would have a “good fight.”
Rivas (26-0, 18 KO) is a fine choice, a 31-year-old Colombian now based in Canada. He represented Colombia at the 2008 Olympics, beating Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev in his first fight before losing to the outstanding Italian Roberto Cammarelle, a 2004 bronze medalist who went on to win the gold medal in 2008, as well as silver in 2012.
Rivas last fought on Jan. 18, stopping Bryant Jennings in the 12th and final round of an ESPN+ main event in Verona, New York.