Anthony Joshua’s fight with Dillian Whyte ‘is back ON after one-way rematch clause is removed from negotiations’… as talks over a summer showdown continue
Anthony Joshua‘s rematch with Dillian Whyte is back on track after a one-way rematch clause was removed from negotiations, according to reports.
Talks between Whyte and Joshua’s representatives were revived last week after the ‘Bodysnatcher’ indicated he is willing to accept Eddie Hearn‘s initial proposal.
However, discussions hit a standstill after Whyte revealed that a rematch clause – which would’ve allowed Joshua to activate a rematch clause should he lose – was delaying the agreement.
Now, according to Sky Sports, negotiations have resumed after Joshua’s team removed the one-way rematch clause from negotiations, which has been proposed for August 12 at the 02 Arena.
The two British heavyweights’ rivalry dates back to London 2012, where Whyte claimed victory over Joshua in their amateur careers.
Anthony Joshua’s (left) fight with Dillian Whyte (right) is back on track after a negotiations hit a standstill earlier in the week
Whyte said he was willing to accept Eddie Hearn’s initial proposal before a one-way rematch clause caused a delay in discussions
However, as professionals, it was Joshua who triumphed and claimed the British heavyweight title after a Round 7 knockout when they fought in 2015.
After the Whyte fight, Joshua is expected to square off against Deontay Wilder over in Saudi Arabia at the back end of the year.
Hearn recently confirmed that they are close to completing the Wilder deal and are set hold meetings in London next week to finalise the contracts.
The plan is that both Wilder and Joshua will have a fight prior to their bout which will take place in the final months of 2023.
Those plans, for Joshua, were nearly disrupted after Whyte revealed this week that a ‘complicated contract’ had been sent over by ‘AJ’s team.
Whyte said: ‘It’s like this, he (Hearn) said, “We’re gonna send a simple contract,” and then they sent a very complicated contract with a lot of hoops and a lot of hooks to hook me in.
‘I don’t want that, I just want a simple contract, simple fight, winner moves on and has a big fight in Saudi Arabia. This fight for me is about the opportunity, it’s not about the money, that’s why I’m taking the fight for the money they’ve offered me.
‘But now they’re trying to put a rematch clause in there that ties me up for a year and messes everything up, I’m not interested in that. I just want a straightforward fight, winner moves on, that’s it.’
Hearn and Joshua are looking to set-up an action packed 2023 schedule for the heavyweight
As well as a summer fight with Whyte, Hearn confirmed that Joshua vs Wilder is close to being made at the end of the calendar year.
The Matchroom Boxing chief is staging meetings with Saudi Arabian promotional outfit Skills Challenge Promotions and Wilder’s representatives next week in London to close the deal.
Joshua and Wilder are expected to square off in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in December while Skills Challenge are also planning to play host to Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s long-awaited undisputed fight on the same card.
‘We’re looking to stage meetings in London next week to finalise the deal. We believe in Prince Khalid and Skills Challenge in terms of their desire to make the fight,” he told Boxing News.
