Anthony Joshua’s potential fight with Dillian Whyte may not happen after Eddie Hearn confirmed that talks had not progressed due to differences over money.
Joshua is expected to return to the ring in August in preparation for a potential mega fight with Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia.
Although that may be the case, the Brit is still under his new trainer, Derrick James. Their only fight together was when Joshua beat Jermaine Franklin via a unanimous decision in April.
Therefore, another fight is vital for Joshua to implement the ‘James’ style. Whyte was seen as a credible opponent, given the pair do have a history.
Joshua beat Whyte via a TKO in 2015, but a combination of bad blood coupled with the fighters being at different stages in their career has made a rematch more tantalizing.
And yet, money appears to be a major stumbling block.
Hearn’s Comments
“We’ve made an offer, 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.
“It’s not that it has to be Dillian – that’s the fight AJ wanted. The issue is the money Dillian wants, the money AJ wants.
“I don’t think we can get to the number Dillian wants for that fight in all honesty. I think Dillian wants the fight, I think AJ wants the fight, but we may well run out of time.”
If the fight with Whyte fails, then another man is ready to step up instead: Filip Hrgovic. The former is the current IBF mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk with 15 wins that include 12 KOs.
And since both fighters are promoted by Hearn, Hrgovic has stated that he is ready if need be.
“I’ll destroy him. I think I’ll destroy him. If he comes in this shape [like he did against Franklin] I’ll destroy him. I expected more [against Franklin].
“I thought he was going to knock him out, but he was too cautious and didn’t let his hands go,” Hrgovic