Dillian Whyte survives knockdown to beat Oscar Rivas

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Dillian Whyte has beaten Oscar Rivas to move closer towards a WBC Heavyweight title fight.

The British fighter was floored in the ninth round but recovered to take a unanimous 115-112 115-112 116-111 points decision.

Whyte nearly stopped Rivas in the second round with a right hand but the Colombian recovered. The 31-year-old looked vulnerable in the ninth round after an uppercut knocked him down, and another big shot came as Rivas looked for the knockout.

That knockout never came, though, and Whyte rallied in the closing stages to convince the judges to award him the victory.

“I went to move and crossed my legs and got caught with a punch,” Whyte told reporters.

“I won every round after that. These guys have had hundreds of amateur fights; I had seven. I had a hell of a camp, lots of things have been happening behind the scenes. I wanted a war and had a war.

“He’s a great fighter. He’s a tough man. I have a lot of respect for him.

“We’re looking to get another fight booked for November, December time. Titles matter – to beat these kind of guys. People keep writing me off but I keep showing up.”

Whyte will now turn his attention towards WBC champion Deontay Wilder, who faces Tyson Fury in February.

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