Anthony Joshua is set to take on Dillian Whyte next month in what will be a trilogy bout across their amateur and professional careers.
As a result, footage of their first contest, back in 2009, is already doing the rounds on social media, where Whyte scored a knockdown along the way to victory over the future two-time heavyweight champion.
In February 2009, a 19-year-old Anthony Joshua met a 20-year-old Dillian Whyte in the early days of his amateur career in the Boston Arms pub in Tufnell Park, London. Unbeknownst to spectators, both men would fight in front of sell-out crowds under the iconic arches of Wembley Stadium in the future and Joshua would go on to win the gold medal at London 2012 and twice become the unified champion of the world.
However, despite his future success, it was Whyte who came out on top in their original affair dealing ‘AJ’ with a harrowing memory and birthing one of Great Britain’s most stand-out rivalries since the turn of the millennium.
Early in the second-round, Whyte backed up his fellow Londoner, and caught him with a fast left-hook, right-hook combination as Joshua tried to manoeuvre out of the corner, but instead found himself on his back, facing the bright lights of the Victorian North-London pub.
With the help of the knockdown, Whyte would claim the unanimous decision win and Joshua suffered his first taste of defeat in the ring, a moment he admits was tough to take.
‘AJ’ got his revenge back six years later, knocking the ‘Body Snatcher’ out as a professional and levelling the scores at the O2 Arena.
The pair will engage in a third and likely final clash. Once again, the bout is staged at the O2 Arena on August 12th and will be available to watch live on DAZN pay-per-view.