Tyson Fury confirms standby fighter if Dillian Whyte pulls out of title bout

Tyson Fury has confirmed that Joseph Parker would step into the ring in place of Dillian Whyte should the Londoner pull out of the World Championship fight which is scheduled for this Saturday. The 30-year-old New Zealander has previously held a world title, he was the WBO heavyweight champion from 2016 until losing the title to Anthony Joshua in 2018.

He then lost his next fight to Whyte, also in 2018, before winning his last six bouts, culminating in back-to-back wins against Derek Chisora last year. However, it is unlikely that Whyte will drop out, with the Express reporting that the only reason for him missing the open workouts yesterday being that he had a 'late flight'.

However, should he fail to make an appearance at Wednesday's press conference it will further fuel speculation that there may be a dropout from the fight. Fury has expressed this in an interview with IFL TV, saying: "We've said, 'It's not personal, strictly business.' If this fight happens we've shook hands and agreed, we're gonna throw down."

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Fury and Parker are good friends and have been pictured together at fights in the past as well as being well-known sparring partners. The pair have trained alongside New Zealand rugby star and close friend of Parker's Sonny-Bill Williams - any fight that takes place could lack the animosity of a fight between Whyte and Fury.

However, Frank Warren claims to have spoken with Whyte, saying that 'we're all on track' for the fight, insisting that Whyte would be in attendance for the press conference. He said after Tuesday's open workouts that the event was on track to run as planned.

He explained in an interview