By Jake Tiernan: Dillian Whyte says Anthony Joshua’s management hasn’t contacted him to begin negotiations for their talked-about rematch on August 12th, and he now realizes that they’ve been tricking the people.
In fairness to Joshua, he said on social media that he wasn’t aware of any talks taking place for a rematch with the 35-year-old Whyte. With the way Joshua worded his message, there was no mistaking his lack of interest in fighting Whyte next.
It was promoter Eddie Hearn who doggedly wouldn’t let go of the idea of Joshua fighting Whyte, just as he did in continually talking about Canelo Alvarez intending on fighting Dmitry Bivol next in September when in reality, the Mexican star had no interest in talking this fight.
Hearn was beyond persistent about wanting Joshua to fight Whyte again, and he seemed oblivious to the danger that match-up would present for AJ.
Moreover, Hearn showed a tin ear to what the boxing public was saying about that fight, as the fans were vocal about their lack of interest in seeing Joshua fight Whyte again in this lifetime. That ship has sailed, and it would be pointless to make the rematch now after all these years.
Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) understands why Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) and his team wouldn’t want to fight him because AJ is going to make a massive amount of money in December against former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia.
It would be a foolhardy move on Joshua’s part to fight the still dangerous Whyte when he’s got a massive payday over the horizon against Wilder that he would be risking.
If Joshua is going to take a tune-up on August 12th, he would be better off fighting a non-puncher that won’t be a threat to knock him out. Agit Kabayel or Michael Hunter would be ideal for Joshua because they don’t possess the pop in their punches.
“They’re just wasting time messing about and trying to trick the people like they did a few years ago,” said Dillian Whyte to Sky Sports Boxing, complaining about the no contact being made by Anthony Joshua’s promoters for a fight on August 12th.
“It isn’t nothing at all. It’s a big fight, eight weeks away, and there’s nothing, there’s no communication, nothing. So you know, it just doesn’t seem real, just like you know, you put me in the same position they did a few years ago,” said Whyte.
It’s unknown whether Whyte was purposefully used by Hearn to get the boxing public amped up over AJ’s fight on August 12th or if he was naively assuming that Joshua would go ahead with the rematch.
In hindsight, Hearn should have sat down with Joshua and discussed ‘safe’ options for his August 12th fight because Whyte was a terrible choice. He’s much too dangerous for Joshua to fight, and the upside wouldn’t be high enough to face him due to the lack of fan interest in the rematch.
“I don’t blame them. If he’s going to get 50 million to fight Wilder in Saudi in December, why would they take a chance of fighting me? It doesn’t make sense,” said Whyte about Joshua.
