Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that Dillian Whyte is top of the list of potential future opponents for Anthony Joshua as he looks to rebuild his career after a second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua beat Whyte in a back and forth contest when the two faced off in 2015, and the Matchroom boss insists there is still huge public interest in a second meeting and that a rematch would be worthy of a stadium.
“We’re talking to Dillian about his next fight in November, other people are making offers, but I see that fight in the spring or summer 2023 in a stadium. It’s a massive fight.”
“Joshua 100 per cent wants to fight Dillian Whyte”
Speaking to Sportsmail, Hearn conceded a rematch with Whyte won’t be next for AJ, however, and that he will look to return against a more fringe contender to kickstart his revival after failing to recapture the unified heavyweight crown in Jeddah.
Former Tyson Fury foe Otto Wallin was mentioned as a possible opponent for a December date, as well as China’s Zhilei Zhang, who lost a controversial decision to Filip Hrgovic on Joshua’s undercard last time out.
“It will be someone credible, who AJ can come back, express himself against and build on what he’s learning in camp.”
“He can then build himself back up to fighting for a heavyweight title again. The likes of Zhilei Zhang and Otto Wallin would certainly fall into that category.”
UK fight fans will be glad to hear that Hearn intends to bring AJ back to the UK for his next outing, with Hearn touting the Manchester Arena and the 02 in London as the frontrunners for the homecoming.
“I’d like to bring him home. Look, there’s the Zhang fight and that’s a big fight in China, but I just feel that the next fight should be in the UK.”
“It will be at the O2 or Manchester Arena, we won’t do a stadium fight.”
From Hearn’s comments, it is clear the Anthony Joshua story is far from over. With mega fights with the likes of Whyte, Wilder and Fury all still in the offing, AJ’s journey towards a third world heavyweight title should prove just as enthralling as his career to date.