Square One: Once met as prospects, Joshua and Whyte now reunite as injured rivals on the road to recovery
WHEN fighting for the first time in 2013, Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte were unlike any other heavyweight prospect, fueled by youthful pride and a perhaps illusory belief that they would change course of heavyweight history and become a legend in the sport. In fact, they met so early in their respective careers, many believe this will be the start of a long rivalry, with one or maybe two more matches to come once they move on and Win world titles and ensure any rematch is even more lucrative than the first.
Now, eight years later, Joshua (33) and Whyte (36) are indeed seeing each other again, though not as planned and not in the way either of them might have intended. Now, instead of colliding once more with one or both, on top of heavyweight and a host of world titles awaiting, Joshua and Whyte will meet on August 12 at the O2 Arena in London with The goal is as simple as this: win to save your career.
That’s not to say that either one is necessarily leaving, nor that one or the other is showing clear signs of regress at this stage. But certainly, when compared to this plan originally drafted years ago, it is inevitable that Joshua and Whyte reunite not as world champions but as two Candidates are equally hurt, humbled and need to be turned back. to a square. They both need to get back there for a variety of reasons, one suspects, but mostly there, at first, when they stare at each other on August 12, they’ll be able to reconnect not only with the enemy. old enemies but also with the heavyweight they used to be.
Joshua chases Whyte
“I made it clear that my plan would work this year,” Joshua said. “August 12 is the date; I will be ready to fight. I look forward to doing business with the business.”
Short and to the point, as well as painfully uninteresting, that simple statement will show Joshua will be in business a second time. It also hints that he won’t be dragged into a duel with Whyte, with whom he shared countless heated moments before their first encounter in 2013.
For his part, Whyte wasn’t more excited when it came time to express his joy that Joshua’s rematch was made. “I’m looking forward to getting back to O2 on August 12 and going to war,” Whyte said. “It’s 1-1, so it’s up to you to decide!”
That is true, of course, although critics in turn might argue that this particular match-fixing is not something anyone is necessarily clamoring for. Not only that, with news that the match will cost a whopping £26.99 to watch on DAZN PPV (which is already a subscription service) in the UK, one wonders where the event will take place. out like both at the gate and in terms of pay per game. see buy.
The names involved are still important and popular, especially in the UK, which means promoters can expect a lot of interest in the pair getting together for a second time. . However, whether that eventually translates into people paying to watch it is another story entirely.
Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, the promoter tasked with selling this match to the public, said: “I absolutely cannot believe this fight is going on and is completely unchallenged by either man. . “The rivalry runs deep and there is something about these two that they will never back down from each other. It might look like a bluff at times but now we’re all set and with everything going, this is an absolute must-have win for both. Just like the first time at The O2, get ready for the fireworks display on August 12 and an epic boxing night broadcast live on DAZN.”
When considering the other names associated with Joshua for this August date, Whyte, March 29 (19), is not only the logical choice but also the most appealing. Because obviously, when it comes to UK audiences, as well as pure entertainment value, this is a much better fight than any that involved Joshua and Agit Kabayel, Jarrell Miller and Otto Wallin. , all of which have been seen as potential rivals to Joshua in recent weeks. Whether Whyte will ultimately be enough to make things competitive remains to be seen, but if he has anything left at this level then surely someone like Joshua, a rival he has never been. particularly liked, will take it away from him.
Similarly, Joshua, 25-3 (22), is the one in need of a declared win after the walker match against Jermaine Franklin in April. That night, fearing another loss and therefore understanding reticence, Joshua appeared unusually pensive; someone who looks far from heavyweight, who circa 2013 knocked out Whyte in the seventh round after wobbling heavily in the second round. The hope now, of course, with Joshua once again alongside his London rival, is that just seeing Whyte loitering in the opposite corner on August 12 will rekindle something in the former division’s home. world that his skeptics believed had been extinguished forever. lost against Oleksandr Usyk.
