Promoter Eddie Hearn told boxing reporters following Dillian Whyte’s 12-round majority decision win over previously undefeated, world-ranked Jermaine Franklin that they are planning to stage a trilogy fight (counting Whyte’s 2009 amateur win) between Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) and superstar Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) in 2023.
Eddie Hearn States Joshua vs Whyte 2 Will Happen
Hearn outlined two options for Joshua vs. Whyte 2: either making the British mega-fight next, or having both fighters take separate bouts in March/April before setting up the rematch in the summer.
A summer showdown would allow for the fight to be held in an outdoor stadium, with Hearn eyeing the 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium, England’s national stadium. This plan would also give Whyte the chance to secure another win after his underwhelming performance against Franklin, while providing Joshua with the confidence-boosting fight many believe he needs.
DAZN will undoubtedly be pushing for Joshua vs. Whyte 2 in 2023. In their 15-month venture in the UK, the broadcaster has struggled to land a major British pay-per-view fight that captures the interest of casual fans. They were close with Eubank Jr. vs. Benn, but that fight was postponed during fight week.
While some hardcore fans and a significant portion of the international audience may not be particularly excited about Joshua vs. Whyte 2, there’s no doubt that the fight would be a blockbuster event domestically and have massive appeal with casual viewers.
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