Dillian Whyte v Joseph Parker: Back Whyte to win another all-or-nothing bout

Dillian Whyte v Joseph Parker
Saturday, 20:00
Live on Sky Sports

Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker come to blows in a fight that will decide their futures at the head table of heavyweight boxing. The pair star in a top of the bill attraction at the 02 Arena in London Docklands on a Saturday night card also boasting the likes of Dereck Chisora, Katie Taylor, Frank Buglioni, Anthony Fowler and Connor Benn - Kell Brook misses out through injury.

A Matchroom Sports summer show put together for the enjoyment of fans but there's little doubt who the majority of the bumper crowd will be there to see. The winner of Whyte-Parker could set themselves up with a money-spinning shot at Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury, the loser tossed onto the scrapheap.

Body Snatcher has barely put a foot wrong so far

Dillian Whyte (23-1-0) won a similar all-or-nothing contest with previously unbeaten Australian Lucas Browne last time out, sending the heavy-handed Sydney native to the canvas halfway through a 12-round contest for the WBC Silver bauble. That breathed new life into the Brixton fighter's career after seeing his progress halted by a seventh round TKO loss to Anthony Joshua in a December 2015 grudge match.

The Body Snatcher hadn't put a foot wrong before sharing the canvas with long-time rival AJ and looked to have chances to cause an upset that night at the sold-out Greenwich venue. He lacked the composure needed to finish the now world champion - getting too close with his opponent hurt - before paying the ultimate price. Whyte learned from that and fired back to win each of his next seven, including a split decision verdict over Dereck Chisora and unanimous vs respected Fin Robert Helenius.

It's worth noting that four of those seven wins have come inside the distance and an 18th career victory by knockout has been priced up at 7/2 on the Betfair Sportsbook. There you'll find the points win a little more likely with 5/2 doing the rounds. That's market best price at the time of asking. Prefer to keep it simple? Whyte is 2.26 in the match odds on the Betfair Exchange.

Parker has plenty to be proud of

Joe Parker is becoming a regular in this part of the world and Saturday will be his third visit in-a-row to these shores following bouts with Hughie Fury in Manchester and Anthony Joshua at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. The 26-year-old New Zealander has suffered a mixed bag so far, edging Fury 118-110, 118-110, 114-114 last summer before losing comfortably on the scorecards vs AJ in March of this year. Despite the result he will always be the first man to take Joshua the distance as a pro and that's something to be proud of.

The former WBO world heavyweight champion has little chance of a rematch despite his efforts as it's unlikely there would be any interest from fans in Joshua-Parker II after a 118-110, 118-110, 119-109 tally. That means he must go down a different route if he wants his title back and it wouldn't be hard to imagine the match with Wilder being made if the tourist was to get the desired result here.

That would give Parker another shot at the big time and it would also present The Bronze Bomber with an opportunity to KO a man his rival couldn't. Parker is favourite to beat Whyte with 4/5 trading and there will be enough value in that to attract attention. Joseph to win on points is jolly in the method of victory market at 6/4, the KO/TKO an unlikely 9/2.

There's nothing in it - take the bigger price

You've got to go with the bigger price selection in this fight as I really don't think there's an awful lot in it. Whyte is progressing with every outing, ticking boxes, improving and moving through the ranks. That defeat to Joshua aside, he's a contender for the crown but it'll all be for nothing if he doesn't get the nod here.

His management team brought Parker over because they saw enough in the Joshua fight to suggest their man has a real chance. Dillian isn't a million miles behind the current champand would set the cat among the pigeons if he was to pull this off. He's worth a bet to win but I'll push my luck for modest stakes and take the points verdict at 5/2.

RECOMMENDED BETS

Whyte on points @ 5/2 (Betfair Sportsbook)