It appears that Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte will be running it back in 2023.
The domestic rivals fought in 2015, with Joshua overcoming some adversity to finish proceedings via a seventh round knockout that laid Whyte out flat on his back.
Much has changed since then. Whilst Whyte remained around the top level, racking up some good wins and two punishing losses, Joshua rose to the top of the division, becoming unified world champion before losing his belts conclusively to Oleksandr Usyk.
Now, both in comeback mode, a rematch seems a good move for this year. Via Matchroom, Eddie Hearn – who would promote the stadium fight – said that it likely happens in the summer of this year.
“I think AJ against Dillian Whyte is always going to be a huge fight, and I think you’re going to see that in the summer. Two heavyweights that really don’t like each other. A big year for both Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.”
Whether the timing means Joshua takes a fight in the spring – as was always the plan – or works with a new trainer and heads straight into a Whyte fight remains to be seen.
Many fans are calling for the former champion to face Deontay Wilder instead, but following relative inactivity and two tough losses, this seems a much more likely route.
As far as Whyte’s concerned, he wants to work his way up to challenging for a title again – his first and only attempt ending with a Tyson Fury uppercut back in April.
He’s coming off a points victory over Jermaine Franklin, and has long-called for the ‘AJ’ rematch – believing the pair are at a draw given his victory over the Watford man in the amateurs.