Tuesday 8 August 2017 14:15, UK
Dillian Whyte has confirmed he will make his US debut against Malcolm Tann, but is not willing to wait for a fight against American world champion Deontay Wilder.
The Brixton man will end an eight-month absence from the ring when he faces Tann on the undercard of the Terence Crawford-Julius Indongo bill in Nebraska on August 20, live on Sky Sports.
After a spell of inactivity, Whyte is eager to fight twice more this year, and believes Tann will allow him to sharpen his skills for the tougher opponents that could lie ahead.
"I think he's a good opponent. He was a top prospect at one stage. He's just beaten a guy last year that's 9-0," Whyte told Sky Sports.
"He's a tall guy, 6ft 6in, and is quite knowledgeable, knows his way around the ring.
"This is good experience for me, fighting some tall guys because all the champions are quite tall. It's good for me to fight someone that kind of height in preparation for the future.
"I'm just glad to get in the ring and go out there and put on a good performance, because I haven't fought for eight months. I'm privileged and glad to be on such a big show like Terence Crawford-Julius Indongo in America."
Wilder rejected an offer to face Whyte earlier this summer, although a recent tweet suggested he could consider the fight.
The WBC champion remains a target for Whyte, but he will not stall his career to wait for a decision from the 'Bronze Bomber'.
"Wilder just talks rubbish. He seems to think the money will be on the table forever," said Whyte.
We'll move on and fight someone else, because he's a joker. He just wants to fight nobody and make chump change.
"We'll move on and fight someone else, because he's a joker. He just wants to fight nobody and make chump change.
"We'll see what happens. I'm not really counting on that fight at the minute, I'm just trying to get active and fight three times this year.
"There are the likes of Manuel Charr, Dereck Chisora, Chazz Witherspoon, Jarrell 'Big Baby' Miller, Deontay Wilder, even Gerald Washington.
"I could fight any of those guys in my next two fights and I wouldn't mind. Joseph Parker, even the rematch with Anthony Joshua. I'm up and ready for these fights."
