Dillian Whyte vacates British heavyweight title

Dillian Whyte (20-1, 15 KOs) has vacated the British heavyweight title so he can pursue a world title fight by the end of the year.

Whyte was ordered to make a defence against Sam Sexton by the British Boxing Board of Control, but he has elected to vacate the belt and seek a world title fight.

Last month, Whyte won an action-packed fight with London rival Dereck Chisora by a split decision in a WBC heavyweight eliminator, to challenge current champion American Deontay Wilder. The 28-year-old Whyte was supposed to defend his Lonsdale belt against Chisora, but the British Boxing Board of Control revoked the fight's title status after an ill-tempered build-up culminated in Chisora throwing a table during a news conference.

Whyte captured the vacant British title when he stopped Ian Lewison last October. It was his second attempt at the belt, having been knocked out by Anthony Joshua for it in December 2015.

“Sam Sexton, fighting him doesn’t make sense, ranking wise, or business sense. For me, fighting Chisora then Sam Sexton is a backward step. Chisora has knocked him out twice. He doesn’t really do anything for my career," said Whyte.