Dillian Whyte vs Ebenezer Tetteh LIVE RESULT: Fight abruptly STOPPED after thrilling bout in Gibraltar – latest updates
DILLIAN WHYTE returned to the ring in Gibraltar on Sunday night to take on Ghanaian heavyweight Ebenezer Tetteh.
After seven action-packed rounds, Tetteh's corner pulled him out but both men landed huge blows in an entertaining main event as the Body Snatcher picked up back-to-back wins in a year for the first time since 2019.
Whyte will now keep on his march up the heavyweight division with a huge 2025 in store.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Follow our live blog below...
Next fight night
Join us on Saturday night for coverage of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk.
We will have all the build-up, undercard action, updates from the main fight and reaction coming your way.
Chisora trilogy
Dillian Whyte vs Derek Chisora 3 has been tipped by fans.
Whyte won the two previous bouts between the pair in 2016 and 2018.
Others are suggesting fights against younger men in Johnny Fisher or Moses Itauma.
March-ing on
Dillin Whyte aims to fight again in March and is eyeing a Saudi Araban spot.
"I just wanna be busy, everyone is fighting everyone and Turki Alalashikh is doing a great job.
"I always risk it for the biscuit they say, wanna fight in March."
"Inactivity killed my career, need to be busy. I would love to be on a Riyadh Season card, people spend their hard-earned money to come out and see me... think they were happy."
'Fighting to change his life'
Dillian Whyte was full of admiration for Ghanian Ebenezer Tetteh.
He said: "Anyone that comes from a third-world country is fighting to change his life, I come from a similar background so I know his toughness.
"I hit him with a lot of shots around the ear and the chin and he's tough.
"I'm glad he stood up because he gave me the rounds I need.
"I've had 10 rounds in two years so I'm happy."
Praise for Tetteh
Dillian Whyte was full of praise for his opponent and was happy his fight was not a first round KO like Daniel Dubois gave him back in 2019.
The Bodysnatcher said: "I'm glad Tetteh stood up, he's tough.
"I needed rounds, I need to get used to pacing rounds and using my jab.
"I've been off for a long time and my last fight was only three rounds and I was angry in my last fight so I just went in there for the kill and didn't use my boxing skills.
"I promised Buddy McGirt I would use my jab today and I did, so he's happy."
Who next?
Fans are calling for Dillian Whyte to face Joe Joyce.
One said: "He doesn’t need that many more fights and if he’s going to, he should be around people his age and stage in their careers."
A second wrote: "Just make Whyte vs Joyce and call it a day tbh."
Others called for the bout: "Whyte vs Joyce sounds about right to me.. both almost in the same position now."
Fans unimpressed
Dillian Whyte's fans were not happy with his performance against Ebenezer Tetteh.
One said: "He is washed beyond belief."
Another added: "Wasn't this supposed to be a knock over job? Not sure where Dillian goes from here he looks absolutely cooked."
More wrote: "Whyte finished as a top end boxer."
Whyte reacts
Dillian Whyte was full of praise for his opponent, Tetteh, after his win last night.
Speaking to DAZN, he said: "Anyone that comes from a third world country is fighting to change his life and his family's life.
"I'm glad as well because he gave me the rounds I needed. This is what, 10 rounds in two years, so I'm happy.
"I just want to be busy. I'm willing to fight anyone I'm always willing to risk it for the biscuit. I'd love to fight again in March. I just want to fight and stay busy."
Three wins on the bounce
Dillan Whyte has now won three fights in a row since his loss to Tyson Fury at Wembley in April 2022.
Ebenezer Tetteh was the latest last night after Christian Hammer and Jermaine Franklin Jr.
Credit: Getty
Whyte landed 346 punches
According to JABBR, Dillian Whyte landed 346 of the 613 punches he threw over seven rounds (56%) - 67 of them deemed high impact.
But more questions than answers have been raised after last night's thriller.
That's now three wins on the bounce for Whyte as he aims for a big 2025.
Tetteh's second loss
Ebenezer Tetteh gets another loss on his record, following his defeat to Daniel Dubois in 2019.
Tetteh was dropped twice at the Royal Albert Hall that night in an early first round beating.
Credit: PA:Press Association Jones: Whyte did okay, but got to be realistic
One thing with Barry Jones (centre, above), is that he'll be honest - no matter how it sounds - and he didn't shy away from being relatively underwhelmed by the performance Whyte pitched in Gibraltar here.
"He did a lot of things right, like the Whyte of old, was a bit slower with his feet and maybe that would've had an impact on the punches. The referee and corner did right by him [Tetteh], not winning a round at all, taking more punishment.
"He's a name and will always get a fight but got to be realistic about what level that will be at," when asked about what could be next for the 36-year-old - hence the aforementioned domestic names.
Whyte eyeing March return
As far as his activity is concerned...
"I just wanna be busy, everyone is fighting everyone and Turki Alalashikh is doing a great job. I always risk it for the biscuit they say, wanna fight in March. Inactivity killed my career, need to be busy. I would love to be on a Riyadh Season card, people spend their hard-earned money to come out and see me... think they were happy!"
February 22 is a super stacked card with world title fights aplenty to kick off Riyadh Season 2025 and would realistically be too early for Whyte, a promotional free agent still plotting his return among the biggest names, to earn the honour of a lucrative payday once again.
First things first, he needs to address his conditioning. He weighed 261.2lbs - the second highest of a 13-year pro career - and while it's harder to keep the pounds off as you age, sterner tests than Tetteh would've exploited some of his hairy defensive moments here.
Whyte: McGirt's happy, I used the jab today!
During his post-fight interview, Whyte hinted that anger was fuelling him within for an eventful third-round win over Christian Hammer and said the ability to get back to hs boxing skills pleased his Hall of Fame head coach Buddy McGirt. Speaking with Ali Drew, he said:
"I'm glad [Tetteh lasted a while], needed the rounds as I've been out for a long time. I promised Buddy I would use the jab today so he's happy, told me to keep the one-two [combination] straight [and Tetteh would surrender], that's why he's a Hall of Famer."
Ajagba also on the radar
Nigerian-born Texas resident Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs) has reeled off five victories in 38 months since losing a UD10 to then-fellow unbeaten contender Frank Sanchez, though flattered to deceive upon occasion and sits #8 with the WBC and #10 with the WBO.
Despite his technical deficiencies, the 30-year-old is heavy-handed and could combine with Whyte to make a compelling clash.
He's already matched up to box Martin Bakole in a final eliminator for the IBF world heavyweight title at some stage in early 2025, though the possibilities are endless in a heavyweight division constantly on the move and ever-changing. Whyte knows that more than most!
Itauma, Fisher other domestic names
While it seemed like the proverbial can was being kicked down the road during the inaugural press conference in anticipation of a domestic duel between unbeaten heavyweight hopefuls on opposing promotional stables... Moses Itauma (vs. Demsey McKean) and Johnny Fisher (vs. Dave Allen) both make their in-ring returns next weekend.
Barry Jones named both as potential rising names Whyte could target in 2025, perhaps to show that he's not a faded version of his former self but the risk vs. reward there - rather than a seasoned agemate - is a consideration his team would do well to remind him.
Then-unbeaten American heavyweight standout Jared Anderson called Whyte's name plenty before Martin Bakole inflicted his first professional defeat with a fifth-round stoppage victory on Aug. 3.
Wardley next? Analysts float their ideas
Barry Jones and his fellow play-by-play commentator Adam Smith float the idea of British champion Fabio Wardley facing Dillian Whyte next, one of many nearly there names poised to break onto the world scene after a performance that didn't blow your socks off here but instead reminded you of just how tough a customer Whyte can be.
I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but might just pour some cold water on that possibility right here, considering both know one another intimately and share teams - Wardley would rather box someone highly-ranked within a world sanctioning body instead.
The proud Ipswich supporter (#6 WBA, #7 WBC, WBO, #9 IBF) has options aplenty and will look to explore them under Frank Warren's Queensberry banner after inking a multi-fight deal before his first-round knockout of Frazer Clarke in their Riyadh rematch on Oct. 21.
Whyte wins via R7 TKO in Gibraltar!
Former WBC interim world heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte maintained he needed rounds under his belt again after a lengthy lay-off, not the first of an engaging career.
Yet the Body Snatcher will hope it is the last after displaying his trademark gusto and boxing beautifully at times to dismiss a gamely Ebenezer Tetteh during an absorbing contest that surprisingly went longer than many would've expected pre-fight.
Back in the heavyweight mix again, sure, but he must be active for that to be the case and isn't getting any younger...
Referee waves it off, Tetteh stopped!
After the way he was assessing him before the sixth, that very pointed question minutes ago, this felt like a likely outcome and so it has proven: Ebenezer Tetteh is stopped before round eight begins, looking weary in the corner and the official has seen enough damage.
Whyte goes over to commiserate with a bullish brute who never stopped working, but absorbed far too much punishment and wasn't giving enough back in the last two rounds to justify that anymore.
Whyte leans over the ropes to address DAZN's commentary team and insist he needed the rounds, Tetteh's got a towel over his bloodied nose and swollen eyes, all that is left is an official time right now.
Whyte vs. Tetteh R7
I'm seeing Whyte has landed 275 punches, 49 of them high impact according to JABBR through six rounds and it's a surprise Tetteh hasn't been knocked down yet - the variation of attacks has been encouraging, heavyweight boxing always presents jeopardy and this contest features plenty too, Dillian can't deviate from the plan.
Tetteh charges forward looking tired but lets his hands go all the same, whether they connect on the target or not.
Whyte vs. Tetteh R6
"Are you okay, do you want to continue?" is the audible question asked by the referee of Ebenezer Tetteh as they head into the second-half of a gruelling contest which many didn't think would reach this juncture. Still he marches forwards, eating punches and the head pings backwards, Whyte measuring distance while banking rounds against a courageous opponent refusing to relent right now.
The high guard remains but Whyte is popping through it with increasing success, he chains together a series of jabs-and-swings before losing his footing just as the finishing sequence looked likely!
Whyte vs. Tetteh R5
Tetteh was slow to get off his stool before the fifth, his eyes closing ever so slightly and his punch output slowing too - Whyte's boxing at middle distance and utilising the jab more, as you'd expect against an opponent he should be outclassing, making him miss and lining up power punches whenever the opportunity arises too.
The referee gives Dillian a gentle warning after watching him tee off with three low shots downstairs, Tetteh's forward forays are more mreasured but the jeopardy remains as they head into the sixth.
Whyte vs. Tetteh R4
As the fourth round begins, Tetteh is enjoying a sustained sequence of success as the graphic on screen shows Whyte has been working hard - and boxing brilliantly, even if this is a firefight.
19 high impact punches to 4, while he's landed 126 of 254 total punches thrown through nine minutes. Finding himself in a spot of bother as I type this, mind, having to push the Ghanaian off him.
Tetteh appeared to stagger him with a single right, then right and uppercut combination but both of them look weary. This still hangs in the balance, one perfectly-placed punch could change things...
Whyte vs. Tetteh R3
Tetteh's doing enough to make this a dogfight, not allowing Whyte any space or time to maintain his rhythm and it's rough, an untidy spectacle that suits the underdog right now.
Whyte boxing well in stages with jabs, combos, body work and the odd uppercut but while damage accumulation is a factor to consider the longer this goes, Tetteh is making him work harder than many would've expected to sustain the success. Exhausting is the word!
Whyte vs. Tetteh R2
Ooof! Tetteh finds himself having to absorb damage up against the ropes in the early part of a stinging second stanza, Whyte loving that body-head combination before Tetteh fires back and complains to the referee about punching behind the head.
Midway through the round now, Whyte chains together a series of body work and then two uppercuts but Tetteh brushes these attacks off as if it's nothing, firing back rights before the referee separates them with Whyte's back to the ropes as they clinch momentarily.
Whyte is throwing plenty but Tetteh's walking into the punches and hasn't really taken a backwards step - whenever he does, it's not for long! This gruelling pace can't last much longer, surely.