But he can be vulnerable.
In December 2015 he was knocked out by Anthony Joshua, who went on to win the heavyweight title, and in August 2020 Whyte, a heavy betting favorite, was knocked out by an uppercut thrown by Alexander Povetkin of Russia despite dominating him for most of the bout. Whyte returned seven months later to knock out Povetkin, which put him in line for a World Boxing Council title fight.
In staying undefeated, Fury has remained versatile. He can be the tactical boxer who first claimed a world title with a cautious decision over Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015. That night Fury landed just 86 punches over 12 rounds, but Klitschko connected just 52 times.
Or Fury might emerge as the heavy-handed brawler who, in his two most recent bouts with Deontay Wilder, eagerly traded blows with the division’s most powerful puncher. In October, Fury survived a pair of knockdowns to stop Wilder in the 11th round of their third bout.
Whyte told the news conference he is prepared for every iteration of his opponent.
“This fight’s about being able to adapt, and make decisions quickly,” said Whyte, 34, who weighed in at 253 pounds.
Organizers expect 94,000 spectators, and Frank Warren, Fury’s Britain-based promoter, said the ticket revenue would make the fight card the highest-grossing event in the stadium’s history.
The ticket sales speak to boxing’s sustained popularity in England. And they reveal both a pent-up demand to see Fury — who hasn’t competed in Britain since winning a 10-round decision over Francesco Pianeta in 2018 — and the sense that the Whyte bout could erupt into a spectacular fight.