The WBC confirmed that Saturday’s bout between Dillian Whyte and Oscar Rivas at The O2 in London, shown live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the US, will be contested for the WBC interim heavyweight championship. The winner of the bout will become mandatory challenger for the championship, currently held by Deontay Wilder. [We thought Dillian Whyte was named the mandatory on more than one prior occasion]. 

 

Whyte (25-1 18 KOs), called "The Body Snatcher" hails from Brixton in London. He put Derek Chisora away in style in his last outing, the pair thrilling the Greenwich crowd in their rematch in December – before icing  Chisora in the eleventh round.

 

Rivas (26-0 18 KOs) is yet another dangerous challenger for Whyte, and the Colombian comes into the bout on the back of his biggest win in the paid ranks. Rivas traveled to Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York in January and KO’d Bryant Jennings in the final round of their clash.

 

Promoter Eddie Hearn said: “I’m very happy that we have reached an agreement with the WBC and this makes Saturday night even more important. Dillian Whyte has faced all comers in reaching his WBC #1 position and now he stands just one more test away from a shot at the WBC world title – it’s all on the line this Saturday at The O2.”