Trainer Buddy McGirt expects his heavyweight charge, Dillian Whyte, to make a ring return in 2024 following the third drug scandal of Whyte's career.
Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) had been pencilled in and confirmed to face Anthony Joshua on August 12 at London’s O2 Arena. However, Whyte failed a VADA-administered anti-doping test, Robert Helenius (also later failing a test) replaced Whyte, and Joshua won in seven rounds.
No further details have emerged since Whyte’s withdrawal and testing failures from either the British Boxing Board of Control, UKAD or Matchroom Boxing regarding his status or any penalties or suspensions.
McGir was hired by Whyte following his April 2022 knockout defeat to Tyson Fury. The pair opened their fighter-trainer partnership with a narrow points win over Jermaine Franklin in November 2022.
The acclaimed trainer remains in regular contact with the British heavyweight, revealing that Whyte does not intend to retire and is confident that the former world title challenger can return in 2024.
“Dil [Whyte] is not going to go out like that,” McGirt said. “He’s not going to do that.
“As of right now, we talk on the phone, but we don’t talk about boxing. We just crack jokes. We talk about everybody and anybody, but we don’t talk about boxing.”
Asked how Whyte was doing, McGirt responded, “Yeah, he’s great, man.”
