Anthony Joshua could face Dillian Whyte ahead of potential Deontay Wilder December bout, says Eddie Hearn

ByRob Hemingway

Updated 16/05/2023 at 12:41 GMT

Moves are afoot to schedule Anthony Joshua's next two fights in 2023, his promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed. Negotiations for a bout with Deontay Wilder in December are continuing, and now comes the news that Joshua could also face Dillian Whyte in August as a precursor to that meeting with 'The Bronze Bomber'. Joshua's last outing in April saw him defeat Jermaine Franklin by unanimous decision.

Anthony Joshua could fight Dillian Whyte ahead of a potential December bout with Deontay Wilder, says the Brit's promoter Eddie Hearn.

Joshua's team are currently in negotiations with Wilder over a meeting - likely to be in Saudi Arabia - but they are also apparently keen to get in another fight for their charge during the summer, with Hearn citing Whyte as an opponent Joshua "can have some spite for".

The 33-year-old's last bout saw him overcome Jermaine Franklin on points in London back in April.

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That victory came on the back of two damaging defeats to Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk.

"They know what kind of numbers we want based on the [Andy] Ruiz and Usyk fight in Saudi Arabia," Hearn

about Joshua possibly squaring off against Wilder.

"If they [the Saudis] can't get [Tyson] Fury-Usyk over the line, they will still do AJ vs. Wilder. You hit the numbers that we want, and then we work backward on that for the August fight that he [Joshua] will be having.

"We all believe he needs that fight in August and more time with [trainer] Derrick James, more preparation for Deontay Wilder, and then that's it. Who we choose will be dependent on if we get that Wilder deal done.

"I like the Dillian Whyte fight [for Joshua]. Whether he gets the Wilder fight done or not, I like that fight. I think it's a fight that AJ will get up for. I think it's a fight that he can have some spite for, and it's a fight that is dangerous.

Anthony Joshua celebrates victory following the Heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin at The O2 Arena on April 01, 2023 in London, England.

Image credit: Getty Images

"There will be a lot on the line because if you sign a massive deal to fight Deontay Wilder in December and you're fighting Dillian Whyte in August, it's risky business.

"I don't feel like a fight against someone that he's [Joshua] not fired up for or not motivated for or someone who is going to roll over, is going to prepare him for that Wilder fight.

"That's where we're at, but we're trying to work backward after getting the Wilder fight over the line first."

Following the Franklin fight, Joshua had revealed his belief that Wilder was interested in the December meeting.

“I think Wilder’s keen," Joshua said to the Evening Standard. "I think he’s keen finally on December in Saudi. I feel that I’m the underdog at the minute, which is a good place to be.

“And there’s talk about a fight before in London at the O2.

"Right now, there’s no one specifically. It probably won’t be top five or top 10, just on the outside.”

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