Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua will no longer face Dillian Whyte in his next fight after failing to reach agreement on the financial side of the ‘Body Snatcher’ deal.
Instead, Joshua will face a different opponent on August 12 before his blockbuster showdown with Deontay Wilder in December.
“We made him an offer that they made clear was way off their expectations and, quite honestly, there was very little negotiation after that,” Hearn said. social boxing.
European heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel is on a list of four or five possible opponents, while Jarrell Miller has been ruled out as a potential dance partner following the drug test debacle ahead of their latest meeting scheduled for 2019.
‘[Agit Kabayel] can be on a long list,” Hearn continued. ‘Anyone in the top fifteen. I don’t mind to be honest – AJ is going to fight Deontay Wilder in December. This is our 100% goal.
Anthony Joshua won’t face Dillian Whyte in August 12 rematch, says Eddie Hearn
“So he needs a fight against someone who is going to allow him to work, under the lights, on everything he worked on with Derrick James. There’s no point in fighting someone he’s going to knock out in one round.
“And it’s hard to fight an elite, top-three out of five when you fight Deontay Wilder four months later.”
Kabayel is 23-0 as a professional and is rated by all four major sanctioning bodies; No 10 by IBF, No 11 WBO, No 13 WBC, No 14 WBA.
The German hasn’t fought anyone of note apart from Derek Chisora, against whom he successfully defended his European title in 2017, winning by majority decision.
Kabayel has also been linked with a fight with Tyson Fury and is currently the second favorite to face him in his next outing behind Martin Bakole, according to bookmakers.
