Dillian Whyte ushered in his 37th birthday last month, but it was a low-key celebration for a man with far more important business to attend to in 2025.

Last month also brought up three years since Whyte was stopped by Tyson Fury in the solitary world title shot of his career.

Since that night, on April 23, 2022, the Bodysnatcher has managed just three outings, only one of them over 12 rounds, as his career stalled and the division moved on without him.

A significant ring return had been scheduled for April 5 in the form of an all-British headline clash with Joe Joyce in Manchester, but when a gym dumbbell cut his finger down to the bone he was forced to pull out of that, too.

So it was a surprise to many when he was added to the June 7 card at Portman Road, not least because it will be headlined by Fabio Wardley, a man he has managed for the last seven years. But, as he spoke to The Ring in the Ipswich sun on the Portman Road pitch, he explained why the outing might turn out to be one of the most important of his career.

“Look,” he says, "inactivity has basically killed my career in the last three years.

“I am looking at having a big fight at the end of July or early August and I just thought I need some activity before heading into that.

“I thought I need to get active as quickly as possible because I’m serious about having a last run at it again and possibly fighting for the world title. So I want to put myself in the position that when it comes I’m not just there to take part but I’m going there with a high chance of winning because I will have some momentum behind me.

“The only way to get that is by putting my pride to one side and saying, 'You know what, I’ll take this opportunity.' I’ve always done that in my career. I fought Dereck Chisora as co-main event on a massive card and then in my next fight I boxed Malcolm Tann in an eight rounder at about 5pm.

“So this is about staying busy to put myself in a better position to give the fans big fights.”

It will mean a total role reversal with Wardley, who has so often boxed on his undercards and then provided support in the dressing room and from ringside. Now it will be Whyte hoping to do his business early before assuming the role as support act.

“Experience has taught me one thing and that is boxing is an individual sport, but it’s actually down to the team," he says. "In big moments, like the Fury fight, you need a certain level of support.

“You need your people around you, people that keep you calm and give you certain energy. Fabio has done that for me a lot. We’d share a dressing room and we’d have a laugh and it’s relaxing. Now I’m happy to do that for him. I know he's going to do well regardless but if it makes a difference to him, I’m here.”

The truth is that Whyte’s presence has been a driving force behind much of the good in Wardley’s career since he stepped in to sign the former white collar boxer to management terms in 2018. Whyte's first move was to get Wardley a place on the undercard at the O2 Arena in the December of that year and it has been onwards and upwards ever since.

In the 14 fights since, Wardley has won English and British titles, knocked out domestic rivals Nathan Gorman, David Adeleye and Frazer Clarke, is ranked 10th with Ring and in the top three with two of the four sanctioning bodies.

The June 7 showdown with Justis Huni will be for the WBO interim belt meaning whoever wins will likely box for the full title at some point in 2026. For Wardley, the homecoming fight he has craved for so many years also will be the culmination of years of toil on the road.

“It has been very hard at times,” Whyte says. “Very gruelling. This is not an overnight success.

“But I just knew there was something special about him and I believed he could face the challenge that I put in front of him. When I was sparring him he was British level but just the way he composed himself and went about his business told me that with the right guidance he could be something special. I’m just glad I wasn’t wrong.

“Look, he’s one win away from a world title shot now and I think he will get that win in about nine rounds. I think he stops Huni. But it sucks watching him fight. I much prefer doing the fighting myself.

“I can just crack on but with these guys I’m just like ... keep your hands up. It’s tough to watch at times.”

Luckily for Whyte, he will still get the chance to do the fighting for himself before settling into life as a full-time manager.

“I’ve got a few more moves left in me,” he says. “And now it’s about maximising them.

“I was once the guy in my 20s running around making noise, now I’m in my 30s and there is a different process. Heavyweight boxing is crazy, man. One punch and you can just lose your life like that. You have to be smart.”

That starts in the early evening sun June 7. Defeat is unthinkable, but he is adamant victory can launch the final stage of his career.

“I want to fight for the title one more time,” he says. “And I’ll give my all to get there. I’ll give everything I have left in my body to get there.”