Whyte makes winning return after going ‘through hell’

Dillian Whyte says he has “been through a lot of hell” after making a winning return to the ring in Ireland.

The former WBC interim heavyweight champion secured his 30th career win when his opponent Christian Hammer failed to get up from his stool for the fourth round.

It was Whyte’s first bout since since clearing his name of doping offences.

“Not a lot of people can go through what I’ve been through and come back again,” he told Fight Connect TV.

Whyte was due to fight Anthony Joshua in August 2023 but the clash was cancelled after the 35-year-old Briton returned “an adverse finding” from a doping test.

He protested his innocence and was subsequently cleared when an investigation showed that his positive test was caused by a contaminated supplement.

In his first fight since a win over Jermaine Franklin at Wembley in November 2022, Whyte dominated the Romanian-born Hammer in Castlebar on St Patrick’s Day.

The two fighters exchanged words after the referee was forced to stop the bout and Whyte called Hammer a “coward” during his post-fight interviews.

“I just want to fight again in about six to eight weeks time. I need to fight,” he said.

Speaking to Boxing Social, he added: “I’ve been through a lot of hell, a lot of darkness and pent up frustration and aggression.

“Wherever I can be busy, then I’ll go there and fight. I’m running out of time. I’m not getting any younger.

“I don’t know what’s next, I just want to fight. Let’s see what happens.”