After a lot postering backwards and forwards, former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will in actual fact rematch fellow countryman Dillian Whyte in his subsequent bout.
The announcement came Thursday afternoon from Joshua’s promoter Matchroom Boxing,
“British Heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte will meet in an explosive rematch at The O2 in London on Saturday August 12, proven completely reside on DAZN world wide and on DAZN PPV within the UK and Eire.
Two-time unified Heavyweight World Champion Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) and former World Title challenger Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) lock horns once more almost eight years on from their wild British Title conflict in Greenwich, which Joshua received by an enormous seventh-round stoppage to finish an exhilarating warfare.
Brixton’s Whyte has a long-running rivalry with Joshua, having crushed the Watford man on factors as an beginner again in 2009 earlier than Joshua received an Olympic gold medal at London 2012 which kick-started his meteoric rise to international stardom.
‘AJ’ went on to unify the Heavyweight division, successful the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO crowns as he turned one of many greatest athletes on the planet with a string of wins towards the likes on Charles Martin, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, Andy Ruiz and Kubrat Pulev.
The 33-year-old convincingly outpointed Jermaine Franklin at The O2 earlier this 12 months as he returned to successful methods below new coach Derrick James following back-to-back defeats to Ukrainian pound-for-pound nice Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022.
Whyte, whose final win additionally got here by way of a factors resolution towards the USA’s Franklin final 12 months, fell quick in his record-breaking World Title problem towards undefeated WBC ruler Tyson Fury at Wembley Stadium in April 2022, succumbing to a sixth-round TKO loss.
The Jamaican-born warrior, 36, has aspirations of combating for one more World Title and is aware of {that a} win over his outdated foe Joshua subsequent month will put him in prime place for one more mega-fight towards one of many division’s different glamour names later this 12 months.
Within the UK and Eire the PPV will price £26.99 by way of DAZN.com. Costs could range on different suppliers.
“I’ve been clear that my plan is to be energetic this 12 months,” stated Joshua. “August 12 is the date, I’ll be able to battle. I look ahead to coping with enterprise.”
“I’m trying ahead to returning to the London O2 on August 12 and going to warfare,” stated Whyte. “It’s 1-1 so that is the decider!”
“I can’t fairly imagine this battle is going on and there was completely no stopping both man,” stated Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “The rivalry runs deep and there’s something about these two the place they may by no means again down from one another. At instances it could have seemed like a recreation of bluff however now we’re set and with the whole lot that’s on the road that is an absolute should win for each. Identical to the primary time at The O2, prepare for fireworks August 12 and an enormous night time of boxing reside on DAZN.”
Tickets can be found to O2 and Virgin Media prospects by way of Precedence from 10.00am on Friday July 7.
Tickets can be found by way of The O2 venue presale and AXS presale from 10.00am on Saturday July 8.
Matchroom Combat Cross members may even be capable to buy tickets from 10.00am on Saturday July 8. Precedence ticket data can be emailed on to eligible members forward of the on-sale time.”
As we wrote previously, there was a lot backwards and forwards on the potential Joshua-Whyte rematch. Nevertheless, each cash for Whyte and whether or not Joshua having a one-way rematch clause could be an element?
Joshua, who’s a two time unified champ, his belts on a TKO to American Andy Ruiz in June 2019 earlier than regaining them on a call six months later. in belts. He then misplaced them, once more, and in addition misplaced a rematch to present unified champ, Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua has received a single battle with American Jermaine Franklin in a strong however not memorable resolution again in April of this 12 months.
Joshua, 25-3, 22 KOs, beforehand kayoed Whyte in a contender battle within the seventh spherical in December 2015.
Whyte, 29-3, has since additionally been kayoed by Alexander Povetkin in 2020 and once more, by WBC champ Tyson Fury in entrance of 94,000 at Wembley Stadium in London in April 2022.
