Anthony Joshua willing to fight Dillian Whyte if Tyson Fury doesn't, says Eddie Hearn

Planet Sport writerStaff Writer19 August 2020
Tyson-Fury-Dillian-Whyte

Tyson-Fury-Dillian-Whyte

Eddie Hearn has sent out a warning to Tyson Fury: if he does not face Dillian Whyte next, Anthony Joshua will be willing to replace him to unify the division.

Later this week, Whyte will face Alexander Povetkin in the main event of Fight Camp Week Four. But the Brixton boxer may already have his eyes set on the future.

The WBC has ruled that the "Bodysnatcher" will challenge the winner of Fury vs Deontay Wilder III for their world heavyweight title.

Yet, this has been thrown into doubt by some of Fury’s team. They have questioned whether his third fight with Wilder can happen before next February, which is the deadline given by the WBC for Whyte to get a shot at the world title.
Understandably, Hearn has pipped up after hearing this. He suggested that should Fury be stripped of his title; Whyte must become champion and fight his old foe, Joshua, for all the belts.

Whyte meets Povetkin this Saturday at Matchroom's HQ

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hearn indicated that Joshua would jump at the chance to face Whyte once again to unify the heavyweight division.
"Looking at the bigger undisputed picture, all Joshua wants is the WBC title. He was never worried if it came against Wilder or Fury. Whoever!
"Whoever owns that belt is who Joshua will face for the undisputed championship. We know the winner of Saturday's fight will be ordered to face the winner of Fury vs Wilder.
"If Fury does not want to fight Whyte, then Whyte will be elevated to champion from interim champion. Now I do not like that.
“But what will happen? Joshua will fight Whyte straight away for the undisputed championship.”

Could Fury be stripped of title?

You obviously have to take this with a pinch of salt. This is most likely just Hearn trying to pressure Fury’s team into pushing ahead with the trilogy bout with Wilder.

The Head of Matchroom Boxing will know that this world title fight is the main stumbling block in some monumental matchups involving his fighters.
All being well, Whyte will get the chance to finally mount a challenge for the world title, something he has been waiting for over 400 days.
Then after that, there will be a fight between Joshua and whoever the WBC champion will be at this time next year.
This is certainly a huge few months in the career of Whyte. If he gets through this weekend’s test against Povetkin, he is destined for a shot at the WBC crown.

Whyte has the chance of making a big statement against Povetkin, who previously held a version of the world championship and won Olympic gold in 2004.
If Boxing365 had to make a prediction, we would predict a tough onslaught from Povetkin in the early rounds but expect Whyte to calm the storm and clinch a points victory.

By Lewis Oldham, @LewisOldham99