Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed Dillian Whyte is the frontrunner to face Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium on April 13th next year – after claiming an undisputed heavyweight title bout between Joshua and WBC champion Deontay Wilder “looks impossible”.
Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Hearn bemoaned what he perceived to be a lack of movement from Wilder and his team, stating that he and his team were awaiting a reply from the undefeated American’s camp.
“As it goes right now, he’s [Whyte] the favourite, because Wilder won’t communicate with us, or his team,” said Hearn.
“At the moment, that [Wilder] fight looks impossible, because how can we get it made, if they won’t reply?”
Hearn would go on to confirm that Whyte would return to the ring before any eventual showdown with arch rival Joshua took place, mentioning a possible outing in America for the Brixton heavyweight.
Whyte, who is coming off of a career-best victory over former WBO World heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in July, has made no secret of his desire for a rematch with London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Joshua – with the two sharing a bitter rivalry that stretches back to their amateur days.
Following their initial meeting in the paid ranks – which Joshua won via seventh round knockout in a barnstorming British and Commonwealth title bout – Whyte has racked up eight consecutive victories and has forced himself into title contention across the board with the sport’s governing bodies.
After his own pursuit of a clash with Wilder was dashed with the announcement of Wilder’s WBC title defence against lineal champion Tyson Fury, Whyte has emerged as a hot-favourite to renew hostilities with Joshua.
Should ‘AJ’ successfully come through mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin on September 22nd at Wembley Stadium, a return with Whyte would seem the most likely outcome. In the mean time, however, Hearn confirmed ‘The Bodysnatcher’ would return to the ring against a yet-unnamed opponent.
“What Dillian has got to decide is, if we sign that Joshua fight after the Povetkin fight for Dillian, what sort of fight does he want in between? Does he want a risk fight?
“He probably does, but I would be happy to take him to America, give him a run out over there before the April fight.”