It is appearing more likely that British heavyweight prospects Anthony Joshua (13-0, 13 KOs) and Dillian Whyte (14-0, 11 KOs) will clash for the vacant BBBofC British heavyweight title at the O2 Arena in September.
After a unanimous decision victory over Bryant Jennings in April, Wladimir Klitschko said he plans to make his next defense against Tyson Fury, who vacated the British title for a chance to dethrone the future Hall of Famer in Klitschko, whose record stands at 64-3 with 53 knockouts.
Whyte defeated Joshua as an amateur by unanimous decision in 2009, knocking down the Olympic champion at one point.
Speaking with Buncey’s Boxing Podcast in November 2014, Whyte claimed Joshua was still shaken by the loss.
“He’s so insecure and so jumpy about losing to me,” Whyte said. “When anyone tries to ask him about it, he says ‘it was 10 years ago, I was only beaten by one point.’
“I say, ‘Listen, we fought at the end of 2009, and we haven’t been boxing for 10 years, so that doesn’t make sense. We’ve only been boxing for five or six years!’
“It wasn’t 10 years ago, and I didn’t win by one point. I won unanimously, and I knocked him down.”
Joshua, when reminded of the loss in an interview with boxing channel iFL TV, the Watford fighter was not pleased.
“I don’t really care about that,” he said. “Come on, I was 18-years-old. I’m a beast now. I don’t want to start blowing my own trumpet but don’t regard me as the fighter I was seven or eight years ago, because if you’re dumb enough, I’ll knock your f****** head off
“I don’t count that as a loss. I count it as a great experience that built me into the man I am now.”
Joshua is coming off an impressive second-round stoppage victory over former American heavyweight contender Kevin Johnson, who announced his retirement following the bout.
Dillian Whyte has gone 5-0 with five knockouts since returning from a two-year doping suspension after the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine (MHA) was found in a urine sample he had provided after his victory over Hungary’s Sandor Balogh on 13 October 2012.
Joshua and Whyte are two warriors that everyone wants in a boxer; tremendously fast and powerful. Decision is not in their dictionary; it’s all about getting that conclusive finish.
Joshua has had more exposure due to being signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport, while Whyte has been working just off his pure talent, but at this stage of his career, he may have to find someone.
If he signs with Eddie Hearn, this fight is going to happen one way or another.
Will Joshua be able to avenge his amateur loss or will Whyte’s psychological warfare and boxing abilities prove to foil Joshua once more?
