Dillian Whyte was rumoured to face Anthony Joshua early next year in a replay of an all British grudge match.
Ever since ‘AJ’ has been in the market for a comeback opponent, Whyte’s name has been mentioned. There’s no questions that their rematch would sell, and it would be a genuinely intriguing pairing at this stage in both men’s careers.
Whyte returns to the ring this weekend against undefeated American heavyweight, Jermaine Franklin. It’s his first outing since a sixth round knockout loss to WBC champion, Tyson Fury.
Despite hearing it second hand from interviews in the media, Whyte confirmed to Boxing Social that no real talks behind the scenes have taken place about a Joshua fight if he secures the win.
“No one has said that to me. It’s been said in media – no one’s said it to me. But I don’t really care about that. It’s the heavyweight division and you can’t bank on [what’s said], you have to take is there, man. A win don’t guarantee me nothing.”
It was spoken like a man who has, according to him, been denied fighting opportunities in the past. Whyte still claims that former-champion, Deontay Wilder, wants nothing to do with him.
He held his WBC mandatory position for a long time before getting a shot, too, although that status was paused and restarted when he lost to Alexander Povetkin.
Regardless of what lies on the other side, Whyte must win against Franklin to be in the discussion for any fights of importance. His last loss to Fury hurt him, but the opponent being considered one of if not the best in the division softens that slightly.
Franklin, on the other hand, is a big underdog with a record that bears no elite names. ‘The Bodysnatcher’ will have some serious questions to answer – and ones to ask of himself – should he come out the fight on the wrong end in London on Saturday night.