By Jake Tiernan: Tony Bellew says Anthony Joshua is putting himself in a “no win” situation if he agrees to face Dillian Whyte next in July.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn appears to be leaning toward putting him in with the 34-year-old Whyte (28-3, 19 KOs), who has been knocked out in two of his last four fights.
It’s believed by fans that Hearn views the Whyte contest as a fight that will make good money in Britain, allowing Joshua to fight the fading fighter before he’s sent into retirement.
This could be the last chance for Joshua to face Whyte in a rematch before he’s no longer relevant. Some would argue that Dillian is already at the journeyman stage and would be easy pickings for any top-tier heavyweight.
Hearn promotes Whyte, so it’s a no-brainer for him to try and get the most significant fight possible for the aging ‘Body Snatcher’ before he takes a few more losses and is transformed into a Chisora entertainer type of domestic fighter.
Bellew thinks that Joshua won’t get credit from boxing fans unless he obliterates Whyte in a few rounds, which is doubtful. Whyte was knocked out recently by 40-year-old Alexander Povetkin and Tyson Fury.
“I think it’s a big, domestic grudge match, but I think AJ is in a no-win position when he goes into that fight; he can’t win,” said Tony Bellew to the DAZN Boxing Show about Anthony Joshua facing 34-year-old journeyman Dillian Whyte next in July in a fight that would be a step down from his recent victory over second-tier heavyweight Jermaine Franklin.
“Unless he blows him away in two rounds, which is very hard to do because Dillian Whyte is a problem for anyone apart from Tyson Fury.
“For AJ now, if he takes on Dillian, it would take a brutal and ruthless performance for him to come out shining.
“I think the next fight he’ll try to make is against Tyson Fury, and I think the Fury camp would be up for it. The path is clear for it because let’s be honest, Tyson Fury doesn’t want to face Oleksandr Usyk,” said Belleew.
Dillian was also arguably beaten by Jermaine Franklin last November in London in a fight in which the judges gave him a highly controversial victory that many people saw as an old-fashioned hometown decision. What made Whyte look all the worse was that he didn’t insist on a rematch to clear up the controversy.
Of course, Joshua would be in a “no win” situation fighting Whyte because it would make him look like he’s only capable of beating older fighters and is afraid to get back in there with the best heavyweights or even top 10 contenders.
