CARD CLASH CONFIRMED – Whyte-Chisora 2 to take place on the SAME NIGHT as Warrington-Frampton

The fears of many boxing fans have been realised this afternoon with the confirmation that Dillian Whyte will take on Derek Chisora in a heavyweight rematch on Saturday December 22nd.

The fight at the O2 Arena in London will, therefore, clash with Josh Warrington’s IBF featherweight title defence versus Ireland’s Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena.

Both bouts will be shown live on pay-per-view, with Whyte-Chisora 2 being set for Sky Sports Box Office while Warrington-Frampton is due to be the first domestic BT Sport Box Office event.

A title defence from Warrington versus Frampton has been mooted ever since his upset title dethroning of Lee Selby back in May. The Leeds fighter would enter the ring at Windsor Park in August following Frampton’s win over Luke Jackson with common promoter Frank Warren prematurely declaring ‘IT IS ON’ – with the fight being officially confirmed a full four weeks later.

During this time, ahead of the official announcement of the Warrington-Frampton date but when the December 22nd slot was widely known, Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn revealed his intention to have Jamaican Whyte take on Zimbabwean Chisora in a repeat of their entertaining 2016 brawl.

The English promoter claimed that December 22nd was his only option in terms of venue and, while it was somewhat undesirable to clash with Warrington-Frampton, he does not see the Queensberry event as competition.

Indeed, Hearn predicted that Chisora-Whyte 2 could outsell Frampton-Warrington twenty times.

Whether or not this is the case remains to be seen but there is no doubt that the clash reduces the potential amount of money that all the boxers involved will make as the other big losers in the scenario, British and Irish boxing fans, are forced to choose between two competing shows.

Fans and media had been critical of Hearn for the proposed clash and, with seven weeks having passed from when the Whyte-Chisora December 22nd repeat was first floated, it looked as though the bout may have been delayed. Chisora was said to be pricing himself out of the fight and alternate avenues were being explored for Whyte, who is one-quarter Irish, but the grudge rematch was eventual sealed with a relatively short seven-week lead-in.

For Frampton, while his earning potential for the Warrington fight has now been slashed, the IBF belt has always been considered the main takeaway from the match-up as it would seem to facilitate massive unifications in the new year versus the likes of WBO champ Oscar Valdez or maybe even a trilogy fight with WBA owner Leo Santa Cruz.