Dillian Whyte has climbed the ranks of world boxing, yet one of his most difficult challenges came long before he ever laced up the gloves.
Dillian Whyte has had a long and successful career in boxing. Though he’s never won a world title, ‘The Bodysnatcher’ has provided fans with countless nights of entertainment.
He’s faced the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Derek Chisora and has amassed a record of 31-3.
Whyte is no stranger to adversity, and, after moving to the UK from Jamaica at the age of twelve, became involved in criminal activity.
Whyte has been stabbed three times, shot, and kidnapped and was forced to overcome this lifestyle to reach great heights in boxing.
Whyte told Sky Sports, “I got into the wrong company, started hanging with the wrong people […] one thing led to another and before you know, I was getting into trouble all the time”.
One of Whyte’s biggest adversities, however, is not anything that has happened in the ring, nor is it related to the circles he used to run with.
Dillian Whyte became a father aged THIRTEEN
Whyte, who is eyeing a rematch with Joshua in 2025, has had a tough life even outside of his injuries and move to the UK. He also became one of the youngest fathers in the world when he was aged just thirteen.
Speaking to Sky Sports in 2019, Whyte said: “Yeah it was difficult but where I’ve been through so much in life it was just like another thing I had to do.”
He continued: “It happened so long ago, and from so young, I don’t know anything else and it’s just a part of me, having kids from a young age and just finding a way for them and mapping a future out for them.”
He maintains that everything he does in his career is to provide for his family. Whyte’s youngest son is now over twenty years old, and no doubt Whyte has made more than enough money to do what he set out to do.
When asked where Whyte would be without boxing, he said: “In prison or probably dead.”
Whyte expressed great gratitude for boxing and how it has shaped him as a person.
Dillian Whyte went pro after sparring Rampage Jackson
Before becoming a boxer, Whyte became a two-time British heavyweight kickboxing champion and at one point the European K1 champion.
As a kickboxer, Whyte defeated Daniel Sam, the current UK number 1 super heavyweight kickboxer.
He ended his kickboxing career with a record of 20-1 and turned over to MMA, where he stopped an opponent in only twelve seconds.
As an amateur boxer, Whyte also defeated Anthony Joshua. Due to a dispute with the ABA over his kickboxing background, Whyte ended his amateur boxing career with a record of 6-0.
His coach had been against him turning professional so early, but after witnessing him spar with former UFC light-heavyweight champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson and David Haye, promoter Frank Maloney signed Whyte, and the rest is history.
‘The Bodysnatcher’ Whyte is set to face Joe Joyce on April 5th. Interestingly, Whyte predicted Joyce’s downfall against Zhilei Zhang over five years before it happened.