British heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte has expressed his eagerness to face Anthony Joshua in a rematch after the latter’s surprising knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois last September, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
The “Body Snatcher,” who was stopped in the seventh round of their first fight nearly a decade ago, is convinced Joshua’s career is nearing its end.
“If he wants to fight, all they have to do is call me,” Whyte told Sky Sports. “I’m always ready to fight AJ. No issues on my part. But personally, I think he’s done.”
Whyte’s remarks come shortly after WBC champion Tyson Fury announced his retirement following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, potentially dashing hopes for a long-awaited fight with Joshua. However, promoter Eddie Hearn suggests Fury’s announcement is likely a strategic move.
“Whenever you want to return and make the most money, the first step is to announce your retirement,” Hearn explained to iFL TV. “Then someone has to tempt you out of it. I think he’ll come back eventually, get bored, and realize the British public want to see the fight with AJ.”
A rematch between Whyte and Joshua was scheduled for 2023, but the bout was called off after Whyte tested positive for banned substances during training. Meanwhile, two-time heavyweight champion Joshua has remained quiet on Fury’s retirement, with Hearn revealing he hasn’t heard from Joshua since the announcement earlier this week.
“Do you think Josh is going to call me and say, ‘Ed, have you seen the news?’ That’s not his style,” Hearn added. Recently, Joshua, who made a trip to Nigeria and met with President Bola Tinubu, had expressed his hope for a 2025 showdown with Fury before the latter’s unexpected retirement.
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