Dillian Whyte says boxing has ‘saved his life’ as the sport mourns the death of Scott Westgarth, and shockingly reveals he has been stabbed and shot
'Body snatcher' admits he was 'a little bit bad on the street' and 'wasn't the best kid'
BRITISH boxer Dillian Whyte has revealed he was stabbed and shot growing up and how boxing "saved his life".
The 29-year-old heavyweight is in training ahead of defending his WBC Silver heavyweight title against Lucas Browne on March 23.
The sport is reeling following the death of Scott Westgarth after he had just won a fight on a card at the Doncaster Dome at the weekend.
It will again lead for calls for the sport to be reviewed, but Whyte, who's solitary loss on his pro record came against old foe Anthony Joshua, has spoke of how boxing became his salvation.
He said: "Boxing definitely saved my life. I was one of those kids who was not meant to be anything at school, I was either meant to be dead or in prison at this age, to be honest.
"For me, boxing is a great sport for any kid that is out of control or who thinks they're a bad boy.
"Boxing humbles you and teaches you discipline. It teaches you self control, discipline and self respect.
"If you think you're a hard man who can go and stab someone, they will put you in the ring and make you spar someone for one or two rounds and you will realise that this is where it's at.
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"My past - I've been stabbed, I've been shot. I wasn't the best kid. I was running around being crazy and excited and I thought it was cool at the time.
"I thought 'I've been stabbed, I'll show my mates'. I'd lift my top up and say 'look I got done here at the weekend'.
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"But you never realise the risk you were taking in those days."
The man nicknamed the 'body snatcher' in the boxing ring then revealed that learning to survive on the streets led him to put on the gloves.
He added: "I got stabbed when I was 13, 15, 16. That's actually how I got into fighting.
"I got into trouble and my youth worker took me to the gym because he saw me always fighting and getting into trouble.
"He took me kickboxing to learn and once I started doing it I just fell in love with it.
"I thought 'man, you can actually beat someone up, have a fight, get paid and not go to prison. That sounded good to me."
DILLIAN WHYTE ON SCOTT WESTGARTH DEATH
"It's very sad, it’s always an emotional subject really because what’s the right thing to say and what’s the wrong thing to say?
The main thing is, as bad as it might sound, he died doing something he enjoyed doing.
But it’s such an emotional and touchy subject.
All we can say is may he rest in peace and if his family need any support from me or any help or anything, they know where I am, they can reach out and I’d be more than happy to help out in any way I can but it’s just a reminder of how dangerous our sport is.
It’s a very, very dangerous sport.
We risk our lives and our health every time we step in the ring just to make a living and put on a good show for the fans.
But I don’t know what to say because even though I’m thinking about it, I'm (also) thinking I’ve got a fight coming up in a couple of weeks. I’m happy he died doing something he enjoyed doing.
A lot of people waste their time dying doing something they don’t enjoy doing, or die doing something silly like jumping over a wall but he actually died and he got the win as well, didn’t he? So it’s sad."
Whyte moved to the UK from Jamaica at the age of 12, describing how he "never had a great education" and was "bad on the streets always getting into trouble".
But 17 years later and Whyte is on the cusp of fighting for world titles.
His only setback in his pro career is a stoppage loss to Joshua back in December 2015 - with many believing the two could go for part II in the near future.
And next month, Whyte will see his name in the lights as he headlines at the O2 Arena in London.
He added: "I get caught up in it but sometimes I sit back and think about where I've come from and what I've been through.
"To be here, the main event at the o2 and stuff like that. I think to myself: 'wow'.
"I'm far away from where I need to be but it's still a massive achievement."