By Charles Brun: Dillian Whyte has come up positive with a VADA test, showing “adverse analytical findings” for what would have been a lucrative rematch against Anthony Joshua on August 12th at the O2 Arena in London, but the fight has now been canceled.
Whyte was supposed to be Joshua’s tune-up opponent to prepare him for a massive money fight against Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia.
Dan Rafael says Matchroom Boxing is searching for a replacement opponent to face the former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) to keep him active.
It’s safe to say that AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn won’t bring in a live body like Filip Hrgovic of one of the other top five-level contenders to face Joshua on August 12th.
Hearn already got bit once doing that when he used Andy Ruiz Jr as a late replacement for Joshua in June 2019, and he knocked AJ out in the seventh round in a nightmarish fight for the big Brit.
Needless to say, this is a massive blow to the career of the 35-year-old Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) because he was given a chance to save his career following his poor showing last November in a ‘win’ over Jermaine Franklin and his knockout loss before that against Tyson Fury.
Many fans thought it was a bad idea for Whyte to be used as Joshua’s opponent for the August 12th card, as he had a terrible track record in his last four fights and because he was still dangerous despite his advanced age.
Per @MatchroomBoxing announcement, Dillian Whyte with a positive VADA test. Joshua fight on Aug. 12 is canceled. 🤦🏻♂️#JoshuaWhyte #boxing pic.twitter.com/EAjbthnZAu
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) August 5, 2023
I’m told @MatchroomBoxing is seeking a replacement to fight Joshua and hopes to keep the card on but it’s a fluid situation. #boxing
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) August 5, 2023
It’s unclear whether or not Hearn will seek out the old war horse 39-year-old Derek Chisora to step in as a late replacement.
It wouldn’t be a total shock if Chisora is the one that is trotted out to be Joshua’s opponent despite having lost three out of his last four fights. Chisora is close to the same level as Whyte but has a better chin.
“They pulled the fight immediately. There’s been no statement from Dillian’s team. We don’t know what that adverse analytical finding is yet,” said Gareth A. Davies to Boxing Social, reacting to Dillian Whyte’s positive test with VADA.
“There are a ton of heavyweights on that [August 12th] card. Dempsey McKean, Filip Hrgovic. Dempsey Mckean is ranked in the top 15. Filip Hrgovic is the mandatory. Whether that’s too risky a fight for Anthony Joshua. It would be a bloody good fight [Joshua vs. Hrgovic] and one that we’d get excited about.
“Derek Chisora? I think they’re too close to fight each other. Gerald Washington is on the card as well. People will say that he’ll knock him out easily,” said Gareth.
