Dillian Whyte not entertaining retirement question as rematch with Anthony Joshua at Greenwich’s 02 is a sellout

Dillian Whyte is not entertaining questions about what the future holds in store if he is not successful in his rematch against Anthony Joshua next month.

The Brixton heavyweight has suffered one reverse to the former unified world champion in the professional ranks and the pair collide again at Greenwich’s 02 Arena on August 12.

Whyte, 36, has boxed once since losing to WBC world champion Tyson Fury at a soldout Wembley in April 2022, outpointing American Jermaine Franklin in November .

“In these fights you can’t go into them thinking if I lose I’m going to this, I’m going to come back or going to retire,” said the South Londoner, who is basing himself in Florida while he prepares under trainer Buddy McGirt.

“If I go into a fight thinking like that then I’ll call it a day.

“All I want to do is fight three or four guys that I want to fight. If I get the chance to fight them before I retire then I’ll be more than happy then.

“I want three things in boxing – to avenge my defeats, of which AJ is one, I want to become world champion and I want to make some money too.”

Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn revealed at today’s press conference to announce the bout that all tickets had already been snapped up on the first day of sale.

At one stage Hearn felt that Whyte-Joshua II would not happen but then Joshua, lined up for a money-spinning fight against Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia at the end of this year, agreed to remove a rematch clause.

Whyte had demanded that the rematch trigger be removed.

Asked why, he said: “Because I want to progress. If it is a good fight then we can rematch. If it’s a good fight then we are going to rematch anyway. I don’t want to be tied down. Imagine if AJ got injured and then I’m waiting around for 10 months?

“They know I’m dangerous for the business. AJ wanted it and Eddie didn’t want this fight, because he is a businessman. AJ wants to prove he’s still a dog and he’s got dog in him. That’s good – that might work in my favour.

“We have still got a lot left in the tank. We both believe we can knock each other out. Some fighters get up for some fights. Two guys can fight 100 times and it’s going to be war – and then they can fight another 100 guys and it can look terrible. We can fight 100 times and win, lose or draw, it’s going to be a great fight.”