Warren’s Queensberry Staff Serenaded Dillian Whyte Monday

With the U.K. return and WBC Heavyweight title defense of  Tyson Fury scheduled for less than two weeks from now, it’s no secret that promoter Frank Warren has been unhappy with the uncooperative opponent for the bout. But, that didn’t stop he and his staff at Queensberry Promotions from having some fun on social media Monday morning at Dillian Whyte’s expense.

Warren led a serenade of Whyte, who turned 34 Monday, with his people at the office singing “Happy Birthday” and Queensberry put it online for all to see,

Happy Birthday @DillianWhyte! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/sAswgLIhbV

— Frank Warren (@frankwarren_tv) April 11, 2022

After the singing with his office workers Warren had a message for Whyte,

“Dillian hope your training is going well down in Vilamoura (Portugal). He’s waiting for you (pointing to Tyson Fury poster behind them). The man is waiting for you. So you better be in tip top condition. See you next week.”

That last part is the most intriguing point.

As we wrote last week, it’s an on-going “soap opera” that Whyte, who’s signed his contract to fight Fury and make by far the largest money of his pro career, hasn’t done anything to help promote the bout. That includes not having shown up for the opening press conference or having even given any interviews, etc. since then.

Speaking on the “Seconds Out” Youtube show and podcast Wednesday afternoon, Warren updated that Whyte continues to violate the contract by refusing to cooperate and promote the fight. And, that his silence and ignoring of the upcoming bout has made them prepare to have a backup, short notice opponent step in.

“All I want him to do, all I want Dillian Whyte to do (help promote the fight/attend press conferences) is what’s in the contract. Nothing more. Nothing less. And, up to now, he has not done that,” Warren told the show.

“He’s in breach. He’s not done that…”

When asked about the fight still selling over 90,000 tickets, including the 4,000 more immediately that were added just last Monday, Warren replied quickly,

“It’s a credit to Tyson. The public has bought in to Tyson. He’s bigger than boxing. He’s crossed over. That’s what’s sold this fight. Nobody else has sold this fight…. Not a peep out of Dillian Whyte”

And, finally came a hypothetical question of what happens if Whyte, who’s slated to get the largest payday of his career at over $7 million guaranteed, doesn’t cooperate further and somehow bows out of the fight? And, Warren said his promotion is ready with another fighter standing by,

“The truth of the matter is: we cover all bases…Would you not think, with an event of this magnitude that we would not cover that scenario? Of course we covered that scenario.”

While Warren did not give a name of whom that emergency replacement for Whyte would be, the name that has continued to be associated with a Fury U.K. title defense in the recent past is Kurdish German, Agit Kabayel. Kabayel is 21-0 with 13 KOS, and hasn’t been in the ring since last June. However, he’s big with a decent punch, ranked in the top 15 by the WBC would be suitable for a fight that almost everyone is tuning in to see Fury for, anyway.

Another replacement name could be Sweden’s Otto Wallin, who now lives and trains in New York. Wallin battled Fury to a non-title decision loss in Las Vegas in the Summer of 2019. He has since won three fights, including an eight round decision win over Kamil Sokolowski in Cardiff, Wales back on February 5th. That improved him to 23-1 with 14 KOs.

And, while that bout was only nine weeks ago, there has been enough recovery time, etc. for Wallin to be available, if Warren and Queensberry would need a credible fighter to step-in last minute.

Again, it’s worth repeating, no one believes that Whyte won’t show up and at least be in attendance for the mandatory final press conference next week. And, then follow through with fighting “the Gypsy King” in a bout that will have massive interest in Britain and worldwide.

Warren knows this, as well. That’s why “singing to him” on Monday was, as much a playful insult for not having helped promote the fight, as anything else.