Dillian Whyte flees UK just days before coronavirus shutdown to train in Portugal but Povetkin fight now up in air

DILLIAN WHYTE has fled to Portugal to continue his training as he feared the UK would go into lockdown this week.

The British star’s scheduled fight against Alexander Povetkin on May 2 is likely to be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

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Boris Johnson has warned he may ban all Brits from leaving their homes within the next 24 hours.

But that will not impact WBC interim champion Whyte as he has jetted to Portugal to ensure his training stays on track.

During an Instagram live chat, fellow heavyweight Derek Chisora asked Whyte: “What’s going on in Portugal, are people dying out there?”

Whyte responded: “No bro, it’s cool here. It’s alright. I knew things was going to go down, so I left so I could continue my training bro.”

Before he added: “People think this boxing thing is all fun and games, it’s no joke.

“They don’t understand the training, the not knowing what’s going on, it’s madness.”

When asked how training was going, the 31-year-old admitted he is still hoping the fight against Povetkin goes ahead.

He said: “Training’s good, I’m in a good place you know, but it’s hard because we are trying to work out the peak time, but it’s hard to work it out when you don’t know what’s going on.

“I’m training for May 2 because hopefully by then everything would have calmed down, May 2 should be alright.

“We are going to be in lockdown for another 12 days, or whatever it is, then hopefully the fight can still go ahead.”

Whyte has flown to Portugal even though tourists have been urged not to visit the country until the coronavirus pandemic is over.

The 31-year-old is keen to keep his eyes on the prize as he plots a rematch against British rival Anthony Joshua.

But the world of boxing is a standstill following the outbreak of the killer virus – which has claimed 289 lives in the UK. 

Anthony Joshua could ditch his upcoming fight against Kubrat Pulev to focus on a unification fight against Tyson Fury.

And Billy Joe Saunders may have to wait until next year to take on Canelo Alvarez.