Anthony Joshua already teeing up Dillian Whyte fight as he taunts rival over ‘conclusive knockout’ in first bout
ANTHONY JOSHUA is already teeing up his summer showdown with Dillian Whyte by revealing the violent way he won their last brawl remains his favourite KO.
The London heavyweights first clashed in a 2009 amateur slugfest that 34-year-old Whyte won on points.
Six years later they met in the pros for the British title and 33-year-old AJ got the victory with a vicious uppercut knockout.
Once Joshua deals with comeback opponent Jermaine Franklin on Saturday, the deciding bout is set to be announced.
And the build-up has already begun with Joshua ranking the brutal stoppage higher than his world title wins over Charles Martin, Dominic Breazeale, Wladimir Klitschko and Kubrat Pulev – based on the state he left his nemesis in.
When DAZN asked for his favourite KO, ruthless Joshua said: “I would say the Dillian Whyte uppercut.
“Klitschko was stopped on his feet, the ref jumped in.
“Dillian was rendered unconscious, they had to put him in the recovery position.
“That is a conclusive knockout.”
Even after two fights, there is respect between the reformed bad boys.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
In 2019, Whyte boxed on AJ’s Saudi Arabia undercard and flew over to the Middle East and sat next to his enemy’s mum.
The pair shared a warm six-hour flight and when the two fighters met they enjoyed a private moment.
When Whyte beat Franklin in November, he fairly assumed he had secured the AJ fight next.
But promoter Eddie Hearn chucked in a curveball when it was revealed Franklin – who did impress plenty of people in the 12-round fight – was getting the big-money shot on the back of a loss.
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
And the Brixton Body Snatcher did not hold back, telling SunSport: “Everyone was told, all the boxing fans, that the winner of me and Franklin fights AJ.
“So this is a f***ed up thing.
“I would have been better off losing the Franklin fight and getting the AJ fight!
“It’s no surprise to me that they have chosen April 1 for this battle of the fools.”