Dillian Whyte vs Oscar Rivas LIVE results: Brit gets points decision after huge Dereck Chisora knockout win
Relive all of the drama after Whyte beat Rivas to become WBC manadatory challenger
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Dillian Whyte recovered from a knockdown to beat Oscar Rivas at the O2 and become the mandatory challenger to Deontay Wilder’s WBC world title.
The Brit started brilliantly and almost knocked Rivas down in a thrilling second round. But the Colombian gamely battled back and sent Whyte to the canvas in the ninth.
However, Whyte held on to claim a unanimous decision. Relive all of the drama below:
What time does it start?
The action begins at 6pm BST, with the main event expected to start around 10:30pm.
Where can I watch it?
The fight will be shown live on Sky Sports Box Office and is available to purchase for £19.95. For viewers in the Republic of Ireland, the fight will cost €24.95.
Undercard
David Allen vs David Price (heavyweight)
Dereck Chisora vs Artur Szpilka (heavyweight)
Ricard Riakporhe vs Chris Billam-Smith (cruiserweight)
Lawrence Okolie vs Mariano Angel Gudino (cruiserweight)
Charlie Duffield vs Dan Azeez (light heavyweight)
Fabio Wardley vs Mariano Ruben Diaz Strunz (heavyweight)
Dalton Smith vs Reece Smith (super lightweight)
Alen Babic vs Morgan Dessaux (heavyweight)
Round nine
WHYTE IS DOWN!
An incredible start to the ninth! Rivas comes forward and lands an uppercut and Whyte sinks down to the canvas! That was the definition of a flash knockout and the Brit is hurt.
He gets straight up but here comes Rivas and this turns into an all-out slugfest. Rivas begins swinging but Whyte evades his bigger shots and then comes forward, swinging for his dear life. Both men are scrapping for their lives.
Rivas has an opportunity to win this fight but he makes the mistake of following Whyte around the ring, rather than closing the ring off. That gives Whyte the opportunity to clear his head just a little. He avoids a couple of big swings from Rivas but does eat a wild hook.
BUT THEN WHYTE LANDS AN UPPERCUT OF HIS OWN! He ends the round on the attack, landing a hook to the body.
Now it's the turn of Mark Tibbs to get angry! "FUCKING SIT DOWN" he shouts. He has a real job on his hand to calm Whyte down and help him through the next three rounds.
Round ten
What an incredible round that was.
Whyte begins this one boxing well. He keeps busy, working behind his jab. Rivas is taking a slight breather, here...
Whyte then lands an uppercut and Rivas is rattled! He sways from one side of the ring to the other with Whyte in hot pursuit, attempting to finish him. But Whyte can't find the shot and Rivas recovers, beating his gloves together in defiance.
He's okay, and catches Whyte with a low blow which the referee fails to spot. He then comes forward, throwing some wild hooks which Whyte only just about evades. WHAT A FIGHT!
The round ends with both men trading jabs in the centre of the ring. Incredible.
Round eleven
Two massive rounds coming up.
Good jab from Whyte. Rivas comes straight back at him. Whyte then plants his feet and throws a huge left hook only to miss wildly. He loses his balance and topples forward and Rivas almost lands with a counter. That could have been the end.
An overhand right briefly wobbles Rivas. Whyte comes forward and is a whisker away from landing a huge uppercut. Rivas is in trouble here...
One minute of the round left. Whyte is still swinging wildly. Rivas, on the backfoot, is content to work the jab.
Round twelve
WHAT A FIGHT!
Here we go. Oscar Rivas surely needs the knockout here.
The two men touch gloves. Whyte lands the first significant punch, a fine left uppercut. But Rivas is unmoved. He comes forward and is caught by a short, sharp left hook.
Here comes Rivas. He knows he needs something special. He throws a wild left hook but Whyte brushes it away. The Brit is attempting to remain light on his feet but Rivas traps him on the ropes, and lets a few shots to the body go.
Last thirty seconds. Whyte keeping things tight. But Rivas lands one final big right hand which staggers Whyte! The Brit is pushed back, but it's surely too little, too late. That's that.
The two men hug at the sound of the final bell. What an incredible fight.
Dillian Whyte beats Oscar Rivas by unanimous decision.
115-112 Whyte
115-112 Whyte
116-111 Whyte
Whyte becomes the WBC mandatory. For what that's worth. Which is next to nothing.
Here's what Whyte made of his performance:
It was a good fight. This guy had 100 amateur fights. I had seven. He's beaten a lot of top guys, so there was pressure. But I'm a professional. Lots of things have been going on behind the scenes, but I wanted a war. I had to keep control because he's a great fighter. I have a lot of respect for him. It was a good fight.
I went to move but I crossed my leg and I got caught. I got straight back up. I controlled the rest of the round.
Let's see. Mandatory means I could wait another 600 days. We're looking to fight in November or December. Titles matter and I'm in this to be world champion. But I just keep showing up. I beat these guys.
Here's Hearn:
People keep trying to deny him. But he's the mandatory challenger. He deserves this. He could sit on it - but he won't. Because there is always drama. He's the WBC mandatory challenger and that shot will come. And we need the support of the British public and we need to keep pushing the WBC. Before the end of May 2020, he must fight for the WBC world title.
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