Whyte to spar Klitschko: gets ready for English title shot

[url]Whyte to spar Klitschko: gets ready for English title shot[/url]

Brixton heavyweight Dillian Whyte (7-0) is getting solid preparation under his belt
for a possible shot at the English heavyweight title before the end of the year. Whyte,
24, is off to Germany to spar Vitali Klitschko next week as the Ukrainian prepares for
his WBC title defence against Manuel Charr.

Whyte was being put through his paces at Miguel's Gym, Brixton, by his trainer, former
Commonwealth cruiserweight champion Chris Okoh. If all goes according to plan, he will
face Horndon's John McDermott (27-8) for the vacant English title before the year is
out.

Prior to that, he'll fight whoever is lined up for him on September 15th at the York Hall
(his first over eight rounds, to be televised on Primetime), and then again on October
13th at the Echo Arena on the David Price v Audley Harrsion undercard.

By the time Whyte faces McDermott, it will have come slightly earlier than it did for
British and Commonwealth champion Price, but quality sparring is the key to success,
says the Brixton fighter: "This kind of sparring is helping me work on all aspects of my
game, and I know what I need to do to improve. I know where I need to be in order to
be in with the best."Although sparring doesn't necessarily give Whyte the opportunity to
really let his hands go and demonstrate his considerable power, it has been on display
in his last three fights, which have all ended in early knockouts. A powerful uppercut
finished off his last opponent, Hungarian journeyman Garbor Farkas (6-25-5), in the
second. The previous two, Bulgarian Kristian Kirilov and Zurab Noniashvili from Georgia,
were blasted out in the first.

Whyte is chomping at the bit for stiffer challenges: "The fights I wanted didn't happen
because of boxing politics," he told the News. "I was supposed to face Noureddine Meddoune,
who had knocked out his last four opponents. But then he gets injured, and the next minute
he's in Prizefighter (Meddoune was knocked out first round by Kevin 'Kingpin' Johnson in the
competition back in June).

"A fight with Gary Cornish (8-0) was also discussed, but Frank (Maloney, Whyte's promoter)
said no." Scot Cornish is also promoted by Maloney.McDermott is a big step up for Whyte,
but the Brixton Villain is confident he knows what to expect: "I've sparred John too. He knows
what happened. He'll need to bring it."