Eddie Hearn to announce Dillian Whyte replacement, Anthony Joshua set to fight
Posted : 08 August 2023
Anthony Joshua is scheduled to proceed with his fight at London's O2 Arena this Saturday, despite Dillian Whyte's withdrawal due to an adverse doping test result. Eddie Hearn, the promoter, is poised to announce a replacement for Whyte in the coming moments.
Last week, Whyte, 35, produced an "adverse finding" in a doping test, resulting in the cancellation of the heavyweight rematch.
Whyte expressed his devastation and maintained his innocence, stating, "I believe that fight will be signed and an announcement made on Monday night or first thing in the morning."
Hearn acknowledged the challenge of securing a new opponent on short notice, saying, "The absolute plan is to have a show on Saturday night. It's a minefield because everyone puts their name in the hat and the credible ones want £10m, a private jet and my left lower limb in the contract."
Joshua, 33, responded calmly to the fight's cancellation after the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) shared Whyte's test results with promoters Matchroom and boxing authorities.
Hearn revealed, "AJ is desperate to fight. He has looked unbelievable in camp. I have never seen him in such good shape. The plan is to get the most credible opponent and someone who can test him for Deontay Wilder."
Despite the short notice, Hearn emphasized the need to keep options open, mentioning the prospect of disruptions or unreasonable pricing. He expressed confidence in their choice for a replacement and mentioned the presence of other potential candidates.
The upcoming fight was a rematch of Joshua and Whyte's 2015 bout. Joshua previously defeated Whyte by knockout in their British title clash, avenging a previous loss to Whyte in their amateur days.
Whyte, who lost a world title challenge to Tyson Fury in 2022, marked his victory over Joshua as an amateur in 2009, igniting a bitter rivalry between them. Joshua went on to become a two-time world champion after winning an Olympic gold medal.
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