In a shocking development for the boxing world, the eagerly awaited showdown between Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua at London’s O2 Arena on August 12 has been called off. This comes after Whyte’s random anti-doping test returned “adverse analytical findings”, as confirmed by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). Matchroom Boxing swiftly responded, stating the fight's cancellation and announcing a full investigation into the matter.
The cancellation intensifies the historical rivalry between Whyte and Joshua. While Whyte had previously defeated Joshua in their amateur days, Joshua later secured victory in a riveting 2015 British heavyweight title bout. With the present match derailed, there’s now a potential twist. Joseph Parker's promoter, David Higgins, is proposing Parker as a fitting replacement, teasing a possible rematch of the 2018 bout where Joshua handed Parker his first professional loss.
Higgins, however, anticipates potential hurdles, stating, “The only roadblocks would be Joshua not wanting the fight or offering Parker short money to sidestep the bout.” This prospective rematch would add an unexpected chapter to Joshua’s heavyweight ambitions, especially since he recently shared with Sky Sports his aspiration to take on Whyte, Deontay Wilder, and Tyson Fury.
The cancelled bout’s implications extend beyond just these fighters. It was widely speculated that the winner would take on Deontay Wilder in a grand Middle East clash later this year. Now, with the current upset, the boxing realm remains on edge, anticipating the next move in this high-stakes game.
Image Credit: Sky Sports