Dillian Whyte vs. Oscar Rivas Fight Preview and Prediction to Win
When: Saturday, July 20, 2019
Where: O2 Arena, London, England
TV: DAZN
Weight Class: Heavyweights
By Loot, Boxing Handicapper, Lootmeister.com
Dillian Whyte, 25-1 (18 KOs), Brixton, London, England
Vs.
Oscar Rivas, 26-0 (18 KOs), Cali, Colombia/Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Betting Odds: Dillian Whyte (-675), Oscar Rivas (+450)
In heavyweight action, Dillian Whyte battles unbeaten Oscar Rivas at the O2 Arena in London on July 20. Both men have some numbers in common, both being 31 years old with 26 pro fights and 18 KO wins. This looks to be a heavy-hitting bout, with the winner getting in line for big things. Whyte enters this bout as the heavy favorite, but if recent history has shown us anything, it's that nothing is for sure when it comes to big men. And in the unbeaten Rivas, Whyte will be fighting a guy with a lot of pop, ambition, and ability. Who comes out ahead in Whyte-Rivas?
Rivas is a borderline contender looking to get the status held by Whyte—that of a true top contender on the verge of a title shot. His only loss was in a hotly-contested bout with recently-deposed champion Anthony Joshua. But he holds some pretty big wins over guys like Dereck Chisora (twice), Robert Helenius, Lucas Browne, and Joseph Parker. This could be the last test he faces before getting a title shot, though the recent events with Joshua have probably put a bout with Whyte off in the distance. Whyte is on a 9-fight winning streak and knows what he's doing in the ring, a former kickboxer and MMA fighter.
The pro career of Rivas hasn't taken off like Whyte's, but he has never tasted defeat. A former accomplished amateur who beat current champion Andy Ruiz, Jr. and top contender Kubrat Pulev in the amateurs, he has already been a pro for a decade. His last win was his best thus far—a TKO victory over former title challenger Bryant Jennings. He has been lying in wait and he now gets a big opportunity. Though he turned pro two years before Whyte, his progress has been slow. That makes this a major leap in class. It's just a little odd that a fighter with a good amateur background and abundant talent would be held back this much. Maybe it was hard getting him fights, but for the gem of a ten-year pro career to be a win over a top-20 guy in Jennings who is at the end of his career is a bit mystifying. Not to say he hasn't beaten some good fighters, but this is still quite an upgrade in competition.
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Rivas has fought most of his fights in Quebec. This is his first trip to the UK, having fought one other time in France. Whyte is right in his domain in London at the O2 Arena. He has had some big fights here before and at a very high level. It's a level where Whyte is a proven winner, while Rivas is tasting the action at this level for the first time. Rivas is not a hopeless proposition and just because he has been fighting out of the international spotlight, it doesn't mean he doesn't have ability.
Rivas is a smaller heavyweight, though he weighs in the 235-240 pound area, which isn't small. He is dwarfed by most heavyweights he has fought at just six-feet tall and will be so in this fight against the 6'4" Whyte. So it's not something in which he's not accustomed. He gets in close and is strong. He mauls his opponents and tries to run them over. Rivas is aggressive and he can punch pretty well. The Colombian shows good athleticism and really gets after it. He has a lot of ability. But on his 26-0 record is a lot of meat and it might look a lot different if he had to fight the roster of opponents Whyte has faced.
Whyte really put it all together nicely in his last fight, which was a thoroughly-conclusive rematch KO over Dereck Chisora. Some of his recent appearances show him absolutely blowing quality heavyweights out of the water. Rivas could prove to be different, as his exact high-ceiling is unknown. But some of the big guys Whyte has recently dispatched were actually more-proven commodities than Rivas is. Whyte seems to have hit his groove as a fighter. He lashes out with strikes that can really do a lot of damage—coming from a very-athletic and large man. He can deliver monstrous hits from a variety of angles and distances and after fighting a high caliber of opposition, he has developed high levels of resolve and experience. He uses his range well against shorter opponents and while not a jab-and-move guy, he can do damage from long-range and isn't terribly easy to get inside against.
Whyte has good vision of the fight, which has enabled him to win a few close decisions along the way. He seems to have an innate understanding of where he stands. A big man who sometimes enters the ring a little heavier than he should, he gets winded in spots. Whyte, however, manages to find little bursts to stay on top of the situation, maintaining a high-enough workload in otherwise close fights. He can dig in and swing bombs in a brawl or be a more-measured fighter. Since that loss to Joshua, he has added a certain sheen of professionalism that has gone a long way, as he tries to climb the top of the heavyweight ladder. Since that loss, he re-doubled his efforts and is a man on a mission, trying to put together a resume that can only be denied for so long. And in a neglected area of concern, he has been an active fighter, which counts for a lot.
Rivas has ability and enough power to make him an interesting X-factor. He will not only be facing the prospects of what Whyte brings into the ring, but the tide is against him in other ways, as well. Not that England is any different from other locales, but beating a well-noted fighter in his home-city is never an easy task. The playing field isn't always even in that scenario. A lot of hopes are invested in Whyte and if this one goes the full 12 rounds, don't expect what you hear to match what you saw. It's just the way it is. Rivas is unbeaten and not without some credentials, but he is being brought in to lose and will need a special effort to buck all that inertia against him.
Rivas has thrived against taller men, but I see the size disadvantage costing him in this fight. Whyte is in a spot to shine against a fighter he can control physically and distance-wise. To get inside, Rivas will need to avoid some shots designed to separate him from his senses. Rivas is unbeaten and with ambition and can't be discounted. You just don't know how good he is and can't really knock him for not thriving at a certain level when he's never been given the opportunity. At the end of the day, I see Rivas being dangerous, while not possessing any real edges in any discernible area. He is out-sized by a more-experienced and explosive fighter and fighting in his opponent's hometown. I see Whyte's superior firepower and high-level experience being the deciding factors in this.
Loot's Pick to Win the Fight: I'm betting on Dillian Whyte at -675. Did you know... that you could be wagering on fights at discounted odds? There's a better than good chance that you're laying inflated odds with your book. Stop overpaying TODAY by making the switch to 5Dimes Sportsbook! You will be so glad that you did!
