Eddie Hearn, promoter for former-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, indicates that he won’t be able to reach a deal with Dillian Whyte for an August rematch.
Hearn had already stated last week that Whyte and his handlers found his offer to be unacceptable – which prompted the veteran promoter to begin exploring other options.
“So we spoke last night to [Whyte’s] team and this morning,” Hearn told IFL TV. “We made an offer, and 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. The key for us, if we can’t make the Deontay Wilder fight it’s not that it has to be Dillian. AJ wants it, that’s the fight AJ wanted.”
Hearn has now offered an update, explaining that Whyte is no longer in the running to face Joshua on a proposed date in the month of August.
“We made him an offer which they made it clear was nowhere near their expectations, and, quite honestly, there were very little negotiations after that. He never asked for ten million. Not sure where that came from,” Hearn told Boxing Social.
Hearn is now on the hunt for a durable opponent to prepare Joshua for a possible December showdown with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia.
“Anyone in the top fifteen. I don’t mind being honest – AJ’s going to fight Deontay Wilder in December – that’s our 100% focus. So he needs a fight against someone who’s going to allow him to work on, under the lights, everything he’s been working on with Derrick James. There’s no point fighting a fight that’s against someone he’s going to take out in a round. And it’s difficult to fight an elite, top three of five guy when you’re fighting Deontay Wilder four months later,” Hearn said.
“So we’re in a bit of a difficult position. I don’t think Saudi want him to fight, because they want him to be ready for Deontay Wilder in December. But we as a team, Derrick James, Anthony and 258 Management all feel that it would be beneficial for his preparation to have that fight in August.”
Joshua returned to the ring back in April, in his first bout with head trainer Derrick James, to win a tough twelve round unanimous decision over Jermaine Franklin.