Dillian Whyte targets "big summer fight" ahead of ring return in June

Dillian Whyte has confirmed he will return to the ring on the undercard of Fabio Wardley's homecoming show in June and the 'Bodysnatcher' is targeting a "big fight" before the year is out.

Wardley, who is managed by Whyte, is set to fight Justis Huni at Portman Road in Ipswich on June 7 after his initial opponent Jarrell Miller pulled out with a shoulder injury.

Speaking during Wednesday's press conference ahead of the fight, Whyte said he will be in action on the undercard, with The Ring reporting he is set to face New Zealander Hemi Ahio (24-1).

The 37-year-old has been out of the ring since he stopped Ebenezer Tetteh in the seventh round of their December clash after Whtye was forced to withdraw from his April bout against Joe Joyce following a freak gym accident.

Whyte is still insistent on calling for fights with some of the heavyweight division's big names and the Brixton fighter believes he still belongs at an elite level, with a potential blockbuster bout on the agenda if he comes through his next fight unscathed.

“I’m looking for a big fight in the summer which we are talking about,” Whyte said. “I could sit around and wait for the big fight but I’m not at that stage of my career.

"I want to be active. So let’s go, let’s get it on. I just want to fight the best guys I can fight.

Obviously the AJ fight is always there, we have needle and it’s a lifelong thing.

"There’s also Joseph Parker, Filip Hrgovic, even Deontay Wilder is coming back. I’d take a Parker rematch or an AJ trilogy.”

Whyte fought Anthony Joshua at amateur level before the pair locked horns professionally a decade ago in 2015 as Joshua prevailed by seventh-round knockout.

Joshua recently named Whyte on a four-man shortlist of potential fights, to which Whyte admitted his long-term rival would be a "perfect opponent".

A rematch with Parker appears extremely unlikely given the Kiwi's rich vein of form, although any fight for Whyte will hinge entirely on whether he's successful on his return to the ring in Ipswich next month.

Jaquob Crooke

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