July 07, (THEWILL) – London’s boxing scene is set to ignite as Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte gear up for their long-awaited rematch, on August 12, at the London O2 Arena.
The two fighters last clashed in December 2015, with Joshua emerging victorious by knocking out Whyte. This triumph served as redemption for Joshua’s previous defeat to Whyte in their amateur days. Now, the stage is set for an intriguing “decider” between the two, as they aim to settle the score once and for all.
After the fight at the O2 Arena was announced, Joshua was already eager to go: “I’ve been clear that my plan is to be active this year. August 12 is the date – I’ll be ready to fight. I look forward to dealing with business.” Whyte, on the other hand, had their history in mind: “I’m looking forward to returning to the London O2 on August 12 and going to war. It’s 1-1, so this is the decider.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that the fight had been agreed upon, with no rematch clause, indicating that this bout is likely to be the final showdown between these long-term adversaries. With both fighters determined to emerge victorious, this rematch holds significant importance for their careers. For Joshua, it presents an opportunity to continue his resurgence after a points victory over Jermaine Franklin in April.
Despite a turbulent journey, including a shocking stoppage defeat to Andy Ruiz in 2019, Joshua rebounded and claimed his unified title in the rematch. But, the 33-year-old had faced setbacks with back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, failing to secure a third-time unified champion status. Looking ahead, Joshua has his sights set on a potential showdown with Deontay Wilder in December in Saudi Arabia, while Whyte could secure a shot at Wilder if he manages to emerge victorious against Joshua.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
