Eddie Hearn confirms Whyte v Joshua rematch is off

Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Brixton-raised Dillian Whyte will not be fighting Anthony Joshua this summer.

Matchroom Boxing’s Hearn said at the start of the month that Whyte had been offered a rematch with Joshua.

Joshua, who knocked out Whyte in the seventh round of their British title fight in 2015, is still expected to return to the ring at The O2 on August 12 and is then set to fight Deontay Wilder in the Middle East at the end of the year.

Whyte, 36, lost his world title challenge to Tyson Fury in April 202 but beat Jermaine Franklin in November to pick up a 29th career victory.

Hearn told iFLtv of the rematch collapsing: “We made an offer, and they felt that offer was unacceptable.

“We may be too far out on the money to make that fight. We’re looking at two other opponents for August 12. 

“The key for us, if we can’t make the Deontay Wilder fight is that it doesn’t have to be Dillian. AJ wants it, that’s the fight AJ wanted.”